After two weeks away, the Orioles have their leadoff hitter again.
Cedric Mullins, who performed for the United States on the World Baseball Classic, returned to Sarasota on Thursday and resumed his spot in heart subject and atop the Orioles’ lineup. And he did so in model, ripping a three-run residence run to heart subject in his second at-bat in Baltimore’s Grapefruit League sport in opposition to the Detroit Tigers.
Mullins performed periodically for a Team USA membership stacked with a lot of the greatest place gamers the nation has to supply, together with outfielders Kyle Tucker, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts. That left Mullins on the bench for many of Team USA’s video games, however that didn’t stop him from making an impression when he did see the sphere. Mullins hit a triple and a house run with two RBIs in his 10 at-bats on the WBC.
“It was amazing,” mentioned Mullins, including that his solo residence run in opposition to Cuba was the spotlight. “All-around amazing experience. I’d recommend anybody who has that honor to take it for sure.”
The 28-year-old was certainly one of three gamers on the Orioles’ 40-man roster to take part within the WBC. Anthony Santander was the most effective hitters on the occasion with a 1.297 OPS for Venezuela, whereas beginning pitcher Dean Kremer tossed 4 scoreless innings in his lone begin for Israel.
“I’m definitely proud of those guys as well,” Mullins mentioned. “I think Tony’s first hit was 99 [mph] inside, taking him deep. For that to be your first hit, that’s pretty impressive. I was excited to watch him play and obviously face him, that was a great game and something that’s going to be a memory forever.”
Also within the 8-8 tie with the Tigers, catcher Adley Rutschman reached base thrice as a right-handed hitter (two walks and a single), Ryan Mountcastle went 3-for-4 to remain sizzling (1.225 OPS this spring) and Daz Cameron obtained revenge in opposition to his former workforce with a solo residence run and an RBI double.
Out of the bullpen, nearer Félix Bautista pitched a scoreless inning in his fourth spring outing after struggling along with his command Monday.
Another up-and-down Rodriguez begin
For the third straight begin, Grayson Rodriguez bumped into hassle the second time via the order.
But this time he was in a position to bounce again in the identical outing.
Rodriguez, the Orioles’ prime pitching prospect who’s vying for a spot within the beginning rotation, allowed 5 runs within the third body — his third consecutive sport with a merry-go-round inning.
This time, although, he was in a position to exit the troubled inning and return out for the subsequent one for a three-up, three-down body.
“I think today was probably my best start,” Rodriguez mentioned. “I definitely felt the best. This spring, we’ve got a lot of things we’ve worked on, and that’s what it’s for. I think we accomplished that.”
He was sharp via two innings in opposition to a Tigers lineup with 5 regulars and a number of bench gamers earlier than permitting 4 hits, a success by pitch and 5 runs — together with a three-run homer — within the third.
On March 12 in opposition to the Boston Red Sox, he misplaced command within the fourth, permitting 4 runs and never recording an out. Against the Red Sox once more Saturday, he allowed a two-run residence run within the third after which couldn’t get the ultimate out of the fourth, committing an error, throwing a wild pitch, strolling a batter and giving up a double off the wall.
“This is his first true major league spring training,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “I think we have to remember he’s a really young player. Sometimes it’s OK to go through some rough patches to know that you have to make some adjustments.”
One clear constructive for Rodriguez was his slider. Hyde mentioned earlier than the sport he needed to see that pitch be simpler and catch as much as how properly Rodriguez’s fastball and changeup have been this spring. Despite the poor third inning, Rodriguez mentioned his slider was the perfect it’s been all spring, utilizing it usually again door in opposition to left-handed hitters.
“It was definitely the best I’ve thrown the pitch all spring,” Rodriguez mentioned. “It’s something we’ve really been working on. I was pretty happy with how the slider was.”
He ended the outing — his remaining of spring coaching — with 5 strikeouts and no walks in 4 innings, his first time ending the fourth in camp. In 15 1/3 spring innings, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed 17 hits and 12 earned runs whereas punching out 19.
The large query now for the Orioles: Should Rodriguez break camp within the beginning rotation?
“We’re still evaluating, honestly,” Hyde mentioned. “We still have other guys that are rotation candidates, also. We’re going to make that decision at the end.”
Prospect reward
Outfield prospects Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad had been reassigned to minor league camp Wednesday after standing out of their first large league spring coaching camp.
Hyde talked to each children yesterday and advised them “how impressive they were” in Sarasota.
“They both have huge ability,” Hyde mentioned. “I thought they handled themselves so well in major league camp, both of them their first major league camps. And had a ton of productive, really good at-bats by both guys.”
Kjerstad, the No. 2 total choose in 2020, was one of many Orioles’ greatest hitters this spring with a 1.219 OPS in 42 at-bats. Cowser, the No. 5 choice in 2021, hit three residence runs — together with a 467-foot blast — and walked a whopping 13 instances in 46 plate appearances.
“I thought they had great experiences, and we have high hopes for those guys as two really quality people,” Hyde mentioned. “I thought they handled themselves incredibly well this camp.”
Grapefruit League
Yankees (SS) at Orioles
Friday, 6:05 p.m.
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com