SARASOTA, Fla. -- Play ball!
The time has arrived for the Orioles to play baseball games again, as they open their spring slate against the Pirates on Saturday (1:05 p.m. ET, MASN). It’s the first of 30 Grapefruit League games on Baltimore’s 2025 schedule running through March 23.
Here are 10 things fans should be excited to see during O’s Spring Training action.
1. A more proven Albert Suárez
The pitcher who will take the mound for the first inning of Saturday’s opener, Suárez was a surprise standout last spring as he returned to the U.S. after spending five years pitching in Japan and Korea. The 35-year-old is now much more known, and he also reported to camp in better shape.
2. Adley Rutschman’s at-bats
Let’s allow hitting coach Cody Asche to explain why people should want to watch Rutschman (who struggled in the second half of 2024) this spring:
“I think it was good for Rutsch to just reset. He showed up to Spring Training in a really, really good mindset, the mindset I’ve seen Rutsch in years past. ... If you’re a fan of watching Adley Rutschman, I would say that last year is the exception, not the rule, to what his career is going to look like.”
3. Gunnar Henderson bat flips
Who doesn’t love to see the Orioles’ star shortstop draw a walk and then casually flip his bat? The 23-year-old nearly did it in live batting practice on Tuesday:
He most likely was saving it for real games.
4. Jacked Jackson Holliday
The 21-year-old former No. 1 overall prospect now has 60 games of MLB experience under his belt and is well positioned for a breakout sophomore season. His offseason training went quite well, considering he reported to Sarasota even buffer than he was last spring. Expect a big spring from the talented Holliday.
5. Tomoyuki Sugano’s U.S. debut
The Japanese media at O’s camp have been tracking Sugano’s every move since the 35-year-old right-hander arrived last Saturday. The former Nippon Professional Baseball standout has an impressive six-pitch mix and supreme command, so he’ll be fun to watch as he faces MLB hitters for the first time.
6. New faces in orange and black
In addition to Sugano, other notable offseason acquisitions will be playing their first games for the O’s this spring, including outfielder Tyler O’Neill, right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, right-handed starter Charlie Morton and backup catcher Gary Sánchez, among others.
O’Neill’s batting practice has been loud this spring, while the 41-year-old Morton is heading into his 18th MLB season.
7. The return of Félix Bautista
Everybody wants to see “The Mountain” pitch in his first game since Aug. 25, 2023, when he sustained a UCL injury that led to Tommy John surgery. It won’t happen until later in the spring (possibly not until mid-March), but the former All-Star closer’s return is one of the biggest storylines of camp.
8. Enrique Bradfield Jr.’s 80-grade speed
Bradfield, a 2023 first-round Draft pick and exciting prospect who is a first-time non-roster invitee to big league camp after coming over as an extra player a few times last spring. He won’t make the team, but he’ll show off his wheels, like he did at last year’s Spring Breakout prospect showcase with an elite sprint speed of 30.5 feet per second (per Statcast).
9. Spring Breakout
Speaking of Spring Breakout, the second iteration of the prospect-themed event occurs from March 13-16. Orioles and Yankees prospects will face off on March 15 (6:05 p.m. ET) at Ed Smith Stadium.
10. The radar gun for Rodolfo Martinez
The 30-year-old non-roster invitee hasn’t pitched in affiliated ball since 2019, having bounced around the Dominican Republic, Japan and Mexico. He could be the Suárez of ‘25 -- except Martinez can throw 100-102 mph and said he once hit 104.
Bonus: Everything!
These games may not count, but baseball is back. So let’s enjoy it.