SARASOTA, Fla. -- The new agility field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex has artificial turf and 40 yards worth of line markers to assist in timing drills. Many of the athletes roaming around are hulking figures.
Is this MLB Spring Training happening in Sarasota, or is it an NFL training camp?
“Just seeing the guys in this locker room, it’s like a football team in there,” utility man Blaze Alexander said on Monday, his third day in the Orioles’ clubhouse. “Everyone’s huge.”
Football has become a theme of O’s camp this spring -- from Jeremiah Jackson throwing perfect spirals, to the Ravens helmet sitting in manager Craig Albernaz’s office, to even Albernaz getting president of baseball operations Mike Elias to toss around the pigskin.
And with the overall size of many of the 71 guys in camp, this baseball team seems a bit bigger than most.
“We have some big dudes, man,” said 6-foot-3, 220-pound first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. “It’s not very often when I walk around somewhere that I don’t feel that big. Just a bunch of really large humans.”
“Absolutely. It’s a massive team,” added 6-foot-6, 220-pound right-hander Zach Eflin, who is entering his 11th MLB season. “Definitely one of the bigger teams I’ve ever been on.”
So, here’s an interesting thought: If these Orioles were actually a football team, who would play where? Who could be stars on the gridiron?
With the help of some O’s players, let’s have fun trying to answer those questions.
Kicker: Adley Rutschman (6-foot-2, 230 pounds)
“Well, Adley, without a doubt,” right-hander Tyler Wells immediately said when asked which of his teammates could excel at football. “I don’t think that that’s really a question.”
It’s not. Rutschman was a left-footed kicker on the Oregon State University football team as a freshman in 2016. He was the kickoff specialist, averaging 59.5 yards per kickoff, forcing 20 touchbacks and successfully converting two of his three onside-kick attempts.
Rutschman also recorded three tackles -- you may have heard of one of the guys he took down.
“Adley Rutschman tackled Christian McCaffrey,” Mountcastle said. “That’s the easiest answer.”
Former Linfield University football coach Ad Rutschman (a College Football Hall of Famer) is Adley’s grandfather. Oh, and the Orioles catcher kicked a 63-yard field goal during his senior season at Sherwood (Ore.) High School that still stands as the Oregon high school state record.
“It’s been a couple years since I laced up some cleats and went out and kicked,” Rutschman said. “I probably could stretch it out to maybe 50 yards right now, but my leg is not in kicking shape anymore. But I can still go out there and bang some field goals.”
Quarterbacks: Jeremiah Jackson (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), Zach Eflin (6-6, 220)
“Jeremiah Jackson, of course. We saw that the other day,” Wells said. “It’s an impressive arm, to say the least.”
“Jeremiah throws a good ball,” outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. said.
“J.J. can huck the football,” Rutschman said.
That’s more than enough support for Jackson to be the starting quarterback. He may lack formal experience, but his arm strength should make up for it.
“Always grew up throwing a football and playing football, pickup and whatnot,” said Jackson, who was raised in Mobile, Ala. “Growing up in the south, you kind of had to know how to throw and catch a football, shoot a basketball, swing a bat. So that’s just kind of where that came from.”
Eflin vouched for himself as a potential QB (even if he’s a bit tall), and he got named by a few others as well, likely because he often throws a football with teammates before regular-season games.
Two-way players: Gunnar Henderson (6-foot-3, 220 pounds), Enrique Bradfield Jr. (6-0, 170)
Rutschman may be the former college football player, but Henderson was named most often.
“I’d probably have to go Gunnar,” Eflin said. “He's an all-around athlete, stud.”
“I’m sure Gunnar. It feels like he’s good at everything,” Mountcastle said.
“Gunnar’s got a great combination of size, speed,” Rutschman said. “I don’t think he’s afraid of a little contact.”
“Gunnar, for sure,” Wells said.
Henderson was a three-sport athlete during his time at John T. Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala., playing football, basketball and baseball. With his talent and athleticism, it makes the most sense to utilize the 24-year-old as a jack of all trades on both sides of the ball.
Bradfield’s 80-grade speed would also make him an asset offensively and defensively.
“I’d probably fall on the [defensive back] side of things,” Bradfield said. “Or maybe put me in the slot.”
Wide receivers: Dean Kremer (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), Colton Cowser (6-3, 220)
Not only did Wells pick Kremer, but he even provided an NFL player comparison -- do-it-all receiver Deebo Samuel.
“I think Dean would be a sneaky football player,” Wells said. “I could definitely see him being like a Deebo-type guy -- can play wide receiver, can take the ball and go run with it, can throw the ball. I think that he would be a sneaky bet.”
Cowser has quickness and size, but one teammate presented a potential concern.
“Cowser’s got some sneaky speed. I think he would be afraid of some contact, though,” Rutschman said with a smile. “Maybe put him at wideout.”
Fullback: Pete Alonso (6-foot-3, 245 pounds)
“Shoot, Pete at fullback -- I’d take it,” Rutschman said.
An ultra-competitive guy with the perfect build for this spot? We’ll take it, too.
Tight end: Yennier Cano (6-foot-4, 245 pounds)
Here’s another Rutschman-endorsed fit, as Cano possesses skills that could allow him to do everything this position requires.
“That guy can move. I think he’s versatile,” Rutschman said. “You can put him anywhere from tight end to QB. I mean, the guy can probably huck the rock.”
Just call Cano the Taysom Hill of this lineup then.
Offensive/defensive linemen: Félix Bautista (6-foot-8, 285 pounds), Tyler Wells (6-8, 260), Jean Carlos Henriquez (6-3, 231), Jhonkensy Noel (6-3, 250), Albert Suárez (6-3, 235)
This team’s quarterbacks will have plenty of protection, while opposing QBs must beware.
“We might have some guys up front blocking for [the QBs] like Al and Félix,” Bradfield said. “Jean Carlos Henriquez, for sure, he would be in that mix.”
“Félix and Wells alone are massive human beings,” Eflin said.
And Noel?
“Ooh, Big Christmas. Big Christmas, man,” Rutschman said. “I actually haven’t seen him move yet. But he’s strong.”
Linebackers: Ryan Helsley (6-foot-2, 235 pounds), Jordan Westburg (6-1, 210), Tyler O'Neill (5-10, 200)
Given the following traits, Helsley and Westburg seemed like strong choices for the linebacker corps.
“Helsley, that guy’s just an absolute unit,” Wells said. “I feel like Westburg would be a really good football player, just like his discipline, his mentality, his athleticism, I think it’s just a good combination for it.”
O’Neill, a native Canadian, shied away from inclusion in this football lineup while endorsing his teammates.
“Mounty, Rutsch, Gunnar, all those guys look like they could have been on the varsity team all together the way they play around,” O’Neill said. “I don’t want to get a football in my hand, I don’t know what that thing is going to come out like.”
But a guy with this type of physique and an ice hockey background? He surely could hit some people.