This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- Marlon Humphrey has no trouble catching footballs. The 26-year-old Baltimore Ravens cornerback has snagged 12 interceptions in his NFL career, including at least one in each of his six seasons.
Baseballs are a different story.
Humphrey and several of his Ravens teammates were invited to Camden Yards as special guests of right-hander Grayson Rodriguez on Tuesday. They took in batting practice prior to the Angels-Orioles game, and they also played a round of catch on the warning track in front of the first-base dugout.
While Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was adept with the leather -- even making a nice backhanded stop on a low, bouncing throw -- Humphrey had a little trouble at first. Of course, his new glove wasn’t quite broken in yet. Also, he’s still learning about baseball, which his chat with Rodriguez about pitching helped him do.
“He said his arm’s sore for like five days after [starts], like the whole time. I’m like, ‘Crap!’ I mean, he’s throwing fast and stuff, so that makes sense,” Humphrey said. “But it’s been cool just to see this, be on the field, see these guys do batting practice and get ready for the game.”
Humphrey has spent his entire NFL career in Baltimore. For much of that time, the Ravens have been the clear top team in the city. The Orioles, who were rebuilding from 2017-21, turned things around with their 83-win ‘22 campaign, though, creating a ton of buzz heading into ‘23.
It’s something that has been felt by Humphrey, who has already attended several games this year.
“Now, it’s really a different atmosphere to come, and there’s a lot of energy here,” Humphrey said. “It’s kind of come full circle, so it’s been cool to experience the change.”
Humphrey and Rodriguez swapped signed jerseys on the field pregame, when they were joined by Hamilton, safety Geno Stone and linebacker Roquan Smith of the Ravens and catcher Adley Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson of the O’s. Hamilton and Rutschman also completed a jersey exchange, as did Stone and Henderson.
On Rodriguez’s jersey, he wrote: “To Marlon -- Keep On Truckin.” Humphrey’s signed message for Rodriguez was: “Throw ‘em fast + throw ‘em curvy.”
The pregame meeting was fun for both parties, and the members of the Ravens enjoyed getting an up-close look at the upstart Orioles.
“It’s very dope, man,” Smith said. “Obviously, two completely different sports in playing professional football as opposed to baseball, but I’ve got a lot of respect for these guys and how many games these guys play each and every year.”
Smith is still getting acclimated to Baltimore. The 26-year-old was traded from the Bears to the Ravens last October. But he’ll be here for a while, after signing a five-year deal that keeps him in Baltimore through the 2027 season.
So after growing up in Montezuma, Ga., attending the University of Georgia and then spending 4 1/2 years in Chicago, would Smith consider himself an Orioles fan now?
“Absolutely. I’m supporting the home team, you know?” Smith said.
Players from the Ravens and the O’s will continue to support each other, sharing a bond as professional athletes who play their home games in Baltimore. With the signed jerseys, they also gave each other cool memorabilia to hold onto.
Humphrey said his new Rodriguez threads definitely have “hang-up potential” in his home. But he admitted he may wear it a few times first.
Rodriguez, who folded up his new Humphrey jersey and put it into his backpack before leaving the Orioles’ clubhouse following their win on Tuesday night, had similar plans.
“I might wear it tomorrow,” Rodriguez said.