TAMPA, Fla. -- As the Yankees rolled out their likely Opening Day lineup -- save for a position or two -- the Orioles responded similarly to start the game.

And then came the prospects.

Six of the O’s top 14 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, were in tow to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday night, where Baltimore fell, 7-1, in Grapefruit League action. Right-hander Kyle Bradish (the Orioles' No. 10 prospect) made his first start of the spring. Opposing former MVP Josh Donaldson at third base was Jordan Westburg, the O's No. 6 prospect.

"Ultimately, [this] is where I want to be. It's where I want to stay,” said Westburg, who added he had a sleepless night ahead of his first start with the big league club. “To get a taste of that was pretty special tonight."

All six prospects got game action, most notably with Bradish starting and third baseman Coby Mayo making his first appearance up from Minor League camp. Against a lineup of World Series hopefuls, the Orioles' young crop of talent soaked in the experience spring can bring, under the lights against the rival Yankees.

Here were some of the notable appearances:

Jordan Westburg, IF (No. 6 prospect)
Stat line: 1-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch and one infield assist

Want an indication that Westburg has the goods? Take, for example, the 102.6 mph opposite-field single he hit off New York right-hander Chad Green, one of the better relief arms in the Majors.

Such bat speed is what made Westburg an enticing pick in the 2020 Draft. No, Westburg likely does not fit into the O’s plans this season. But manager Brandon Hyde wanted to ensure one of the club's most exciting infield prospects got a meaningful start in game action, the only position player not in big league camp to do so thus far.

“I want him to feel like he's getting close to the big leagues,” Hyde said pregame. “I want to give him this experience of playing in front of a night-game crowd here against a really good team.”

Kyle Bradish, RHP (No. 10 prospect)
Stat line: Two innings, one hit, zero runs, one walk, two strikeouts

One of the breeziest pitching performances on Wednesday belonged to Bradish. The 25-year-old was tasked with facing the Yankees’ top-tier lineup, and he impressed with two scoreless frames, allowing only two baserunners. His evening featured strikeouts of Joey Gallo (on a 96.8 mph called third strike) and Gleyber Torres (on a slider that bounced in front of the plate).

Bradish, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade in December 2019, has an outside shot to make the Opening Day roster, but he could be one of the first top prospects to debut in '22. A fastball that sat around 96 mph and topped out at 97.5 on Wednesday helps his cause.

“Facing them, they’re in the division, so getting an early look at them is always nice,” Bradish said. “But I attack guys no matter who they are. So that being the Yankees, it was fun.”

Coby Mayo, 3B (No. 7 prospect)
Stat line: 0-for-1

Carrying the third-base torch from Westburg was Mayo, a surging prospect within the O’s system since he was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft -- the same as Westburg. Mayo played only two innings in the field (with no balls hit his way) and got one plate appearance -- a flyout that ended the game. But like Westburg, getting into game action was just a peek of what’s to come.

“Coby is a beast,” Westburg said. “Obviously, the tools are off the charts. He's still young and is still going to learn the game and just continue to grow, but everything is there. It's just whether he can put it together or not.”

Mike Baumann, RHP (No. 13 prospect)
Stat line: Two innings, six hits, four earned runs, two homers, one walk, one strikeout

Whereas Bradish cruised, Baumann stumbled. The only one of the O’s top 15 prospects to have debuted in the Majors, the righty labored through a pair of relief innings, giving up a pair of homers to DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton -- batters he’ll get to know well whenever his next callup comes, if it’s not as part of the Opening Day roster.

Baumann, like a large swath of young Orioles arms, is being stretched out as a starter this spring. He’s had plenty of success in the Minors, and the O’s could elect to start him at Triple-A Norfolk to open the year and allow him to find his footing before he returns to the big league club, where he mostly pitched well around two tough outings last season.

With a fastball that sat at 96.5 mph and peaked at 98.4, Baumann showed physical prowess and just needs to demonstrate control moving forward.

“He's got something to build off of on the outing,” Hyde said.