BALTIMORE -- In the morning hours Thursday, manager Brandon Hyde prepped for the grandeur that comes with the annual spectacle of the Orioles' home opener at Camden Yards.

"I'm hearing a lot about the orange carpet," Hyde said. "I'm going to go get a full massage and a full stretch and make sure that I don't tear my Achilles on the way down."

Mission accomplished.

"It’s a lot longer than it looks, especially if you go to give five to your teammates and coaches," Hyde said after the game, an 8-4 loss to the Yankees. "It was very, very special. The crowd reaction was phenomenal. Everything I hoped it would be. There was great energy in the ballpark today. I loved how the fans came out and were loud."

The massive ovation Hyde received as he jogged in from center field highlighted what was a captivating set of pregame ceremonies, the rookie skipper basking in his first introduction to the home crowd in Baltimore. The warm welcome wasn't limited to Hyde; fans were also given their first chance to cheer 11 players on the Orioles' roster for whom a home opener at Camden Yards marked a new experience.

Here's what else transpired leading up to the first pitch of another season of baseball in Baltimore:

The introductions
More than 100 youth from Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School No. 215 lined the orange carpet holding Orioles flags during player introductions, each receiving a complimentary game ticket for Opening Day, concessions, an Orioles T-shirt and cap, as well as transportation to and from the game as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience program. But first, they watched as the entire Orioles roster ran in from center field, many to rousing applause. Trey Mancini elicited the loudest ovation of anyone besides Hyde.

It's worth noting that the crowd also welcomed Yankees reliever Zack Britton back warmly. Britton, who re-signed with New York after being traded there last summer, spent his first eight Major League seasons with Baltimore.

Welcome back
It didn't take long for retired broadcaster Joe Angel to find himself back in Oriole Park. Angel, who retired this spring after 19 seasons as the "Voice of the Orioles" on the Orioles Radio Network, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Rick Dempsey, the former O's catcher and 1983 World Series MVP. Angel's former broadcaster partner, Jim Hunter, emceed the festivities.

Honoring Frank
The Orioles will host a celebration of the life of Frank Robinson on Saturday night, when their first home series against the Yankees continues. But they wasted no time kicking off what's set to be a season-long remembrance of the Hall of Famer, who died in February at age 83.

Robinson's No. 20 hung above the entrance to the club's warehouse offices beyond right field, and a commemorative ribbon adorned his retired number inside Oriole Park.

During the pregame ceremony, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was on hand to present part of $60,000 charitable donations the club will make to civil rights and African-American history museums this year. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture in Baltimore, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., will receive the donations in recognition of Robinson's tireless commitment to civil rights.

The Orioles also showed a video tribute in his honor and held a moment of silence to recognize all members of the Orioles family who have passed away since last Opening Day.

Farm report
Prior to Norfolk Tides' season opener Thursday against Gwinnett, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate announced right-hander reliever Cody Carroll will begin the year on the injured list.

Included in the Britton trade last summer, Carroll is ranked the club's No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline. The Tides did not disclose the nature of Carroll's condition, but MASN has reported it as lower back soreness.

The injury comes on the heels of a productive spring for Carroll, who pitched to a 2.57 ERA and compiled nine strikeouts over seven innings in Grapefruit League play. The right-hander posted a 9.00 ERA over 15 appearances with Baltimore as a rookie in 2018, then was among the Orioles' final cuts this spring.