The scenario Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson will discover himself in at spring coaching later this month is far completely different than in earlier years.
After his call-up in late August final season, Henderson has since change into not simply the near-consensus prime prospect in baseball but in addition an on a regular basis participant within the Orioles’ infield. The 21-year-old stated Friday throughout the Orioles’ Birdland Caravan, a substitute for FanFest, that he doesn’t need his safety on the roster and within the lineup to vary how he approaches the spring.
“It definitely takes a little pressure off, as if you’re trying to make the team,” Henderson stated in between packing packing containers of meals on the Maryland Food Bank, the Orioles’ first cease on the tour Friday. “But I’m still going in there with that mindset of trying to make the team because I like being able to keep going out there and proving myself.”
Henderson performed third base, shortstop and second base in his restricted time final season, however he’s more likely to stick on the left aspect of the infield this 12 months. He performed 18 video games at third base for the Orioles in 2022 versus simply six at shortstop, with Jorge Mateo taking part in there virtually every single day. In the minors, Henderson performed 133 video games at shortstop and 83 at third.
“I feel like it will be on the left side somewhere,” Henderson stated. “I don’t know what place it’ll be, however simply taking reps at each and whichever they put me at is the place I’ll play.
“I don’t mind bouncing around. I feel like they both tie into each other really well, short and third. I enjoy it, but whichever they want to do is what I’ll do.”
Henderson appeared in 34 video games final 12 months, sustaining his rookie standing for 2023. He is the betting favourite to win the American League Rookie of the Year award.
The 2019 second-round draft decide slashed .259/.349/.440 with 18 RBIs in 2022, however one space he did battle was in opposition to left-handed pitchers. Henderson, a left-handed hitter, went 3-for-26 with seven strikeouts in opposition to lefties, and he stated that’s been an emphasis of his this offseason.
“I felt like I just needed to see it more,” Henderson stated. “Going through a smaller high school, we didn’t really see many lefties, so just being able to see it and get my body used to it, I feel really confident against it now.”
Orioles volunteer at Maryland Food Bank
Orioles government vice chairman and normal supervisor Mike Elias and supervisor Brandon Hyde should type by means of the roster to seek out the fitting 26 gamers for opening day, however they spent Friday morning doing a special sort of sorting.
Elias, Hyde and 4 Orioles gamers — Henderson, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielders Kyle Stowers and Ryan McKenna — volunteered on the Maryland Food Bank in Halethorpe throughout the Birdland Caravan’s first cease of the day. The members of the Orioles spent the morning sorting gadgets and packing packing containers for distribution.
“It’s been really awesome to be able to give back to the community, just being here in Baltimore before the season and get some meals out to families in need,” Henderson stated.
The Orioles and the opposite volunteers on hand-packed 11,000 kilos of meals for 9,166 meals. Maryland Food Bank President and CEO Carmen Del Guercio stated the Orioles’ presence on Friday “continues to allow us to elevate the issue of food insecurity in our state.”
“One in three Marylanders are having a hard time making ends meet,” Del Guercio stated. “Inflation is putting more and more pressure on families. So our ability to again continue to get that message out — that we continue to need help, both donations of food and dollars, to help us ensure that we get food out to our communities.”
The Birdland Caravan kicked off Thursday night time with a rally at Bel Air High School, the place followers had a question-and-answer session with Elias and Hyde. The caravan is the workforce’s first since 2020, because the coronavirus pandemic and the Major League Baseball lockout canceled the excursions in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
12 pitchers competing for rotation spots
Before the Orioles went to the meals financial institution Friday, Elias and Hyde held press conferences on the sixth flooring of the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards.
Elias stated he was excited in regards to the Orioles’ pitching depth going into spring coaching, including that 12 pitchers might be competing for the 5 rotation spots. Although, two of these spots have basically been locked up by Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin, the 2 starters Elias added this offseason. Gibson, a 10-year veteran, signed a $10 million contract with the Orioles, whereas Irvin was acquired in a commerce with the Oakland Athletics.
Gibson and Irvin have mixed to pitch 709 innings the final two seasons, whereas nobody else on the workforce’s 40-man roster has tossed greater than 126 frames in a single main league marketing campaign.
Therefore, the opposite 10 pitchers presumably competing for the remaining three spots are: Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Austin Voth, Spenser Watkins, DL Hall, Bruce Zimmermann, Mike Baumann and Drew Rom. Pitchers like Bradish and Kremer, who had success with the Orioles final season, might have simpler occasions making the rotation than others on that listing, however Elias stated nothing is “set in stone” till the top of spring coaching.
“The rest of the guys either weren’t in the rotation last year or were but only pitched 100-120 innings and were rookies,” Elias stated. “Anytime that’s the case, I think you go back into spring training with a competition to get into the rotation.”
With such a logjam, Elias stated the group has thought-about a six-man rotation, though he stated discussions in regards to the beginning pitchers now’s underneath the idea of a five-man group.
“With the 13-man pitching staff [rule], it sort of creates other problems because your bullpen is doing so much work,” Elias stated. “I think that depends on the off days and things like that and maybe what the nature of the competition in camp shakes out like. We’ve certainly tossed that idea around…but we’re talking more about a five-man rotation right now.”
Spring coaching
Pitchers and catchers report: Feb. 15
First full-squad exercise: Feb. 21
Grapefruit League opener: Feb. 25 vs. Twins
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Source: www.bostonherald.com