Orioles left-hander Joseph Dzierwa, drafted in the second round last year, in the spring breakout game: 3 innings, 1 hit, 8 strikeouts

Dietrich Enns walked two more batters during his 2/3 inning tonight. The lefty reliever walked seven batters in 6 2/3 innings. Enns had a difficult spring, and while spring stats don't often sway decision-makers, walks aren't a great sign

Zach Eflin finishes 5 1/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one hit against him on 70 pitches. Eflin said earlier this week he needed to check the box of a final spring start but that he hoped to be ready for opening day. He sure looked it tonight

In Tampa, during his final start of the spring, Zach Eflin has struck out five Yankees in four flawless innings. No baserunners against him. He's also averaging 93 mph on his four-seamer, which is up from last year's average. (Yes, back to baseball. No more grammar talk for me.)

Meet the Orioles minor leaguer who struck out Roman Anthony and Cal Raleigh in the World Baseball Classic. On Micah Ashman, the tall lefty reliever: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

In Tampa against the Yankees, Dylan Beavers was scratched from the Orioles lineup due to right knee discomfort

The Nationals optioned outfielder Dylan Crews to Rochester. More here on what it all means: www.thebanner.com/sports/natio...

The Orioles' new slogan this year is "fly different." It's nails on a chalkboard. That should be an adverb: differently. Or they could've gone with Fly Higher, Fly Faster, etc

From Jon Meoli: The Orioles kept their ‘elite’ pitching coaches for a reason. They think there’s a lot to build on. www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

The Nationals have optioned Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester. Absolutely a surprise, though it felt as though this could be in the cards.

Great portraits from Zack Wittman www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

On Colton Cowser’s duties as the Orioles’ primary center fielder www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

When asked about how hard he is hitting the ball, Samuel Basallo noted that he is a big guy, “so any time I put the ball in play, I think I hit it pretty hard.” “It’s not that I am trying to go up there and hit like a crazy chicken and go crazy,” he said via interpreter

Samuel Basallo with a bat flip. He blasts his second homer of the game. It comes against Mike Clevinger. Get Basallo to Camden Yards: he's hot

Samuel Basallo is having a great spring, and his latest swing makes it obvious he's opening day-ready. Basallo takes the seventh pitch of his at-bat against Cam Sanders deep for a home run. Of his 10 hits this spring, six have gone for extra bases

Former Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez could end up on the IL again:

Vibe open.spotify.com/track/351U52...

There are over 100 HBCUs. Nearly 80 schools are home to a D-I wrestling program. Only one school can claim to be both: Morgan State. Two of its wrestlers will compete in this week's NCAA Championships. On a program many see as a "lighthouse" for HBCUs:

The premium club behind home plate at Camden Yards now has a new name sponsor: Truist Bank. It’ll be called The Truist Club.

To be ‘an elite Grant Wolfram,’ the Orioles reliever studies video of himself at his best www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

Orioles begin construction on Flag Court bar that will open midseason www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

A team spokesperson said the flag court will still be available to fans during construction, although the space will be reduced

You know, I hadn't thought of this until you said it. There have been a few homers in my limited time that hit off the beautiful iron gates at Eutaw Street, as well as the Boog's sign. This is another obstacle for one of the best traditions around (the home run plaques)

The Orioles announce there will be a new flag court bar in right field for fans. Construction has begun and it will open after the All-Star break. It’ll be a wrap-around bar that serves the flag court and Eutaw Street sides. Rendering from the Orioles:

Albert Suárez: “I took a lot of focus on this start. It was a chance for me to show what I have and to show that I’m healthy and that I’m ready to pitch.”

Albert Suárez produced his best outing of the spring against a strong Blue Jays lineup. He pitched four innings, allowing three hits and one run (a homer) with five strikeouts and two walks. He drew 10 whiffs, but his four-seam velocity averaged 92.6, down from 93.8 last year

Jeremiah Jackson, firmly in the competition for a roster spot, hits a solo homer to the opposite field. That's his first long ball of Grapefruit League action

Sometimes you'll see Samuel Basallo thump his fist against his right hip. Why? It's a reminder to himself to use his back hip. "Some throws haven't gone the way I wanted," Basallo said, so he's reminding himself to use the power of his push-off leg

More Shane Baz on his two-seamer: "It helps me beat righties inside. I feel like if I just live away — and a lot of my other stuff plays away and down — I can be kind of one-dimensional, and righties just want to go the other way off me sometimes. I love to pitch inside."

In the grand scheme of spring training, this is a relatively important start for Orioles right-hander Albert Suárez. He has an opt-out clause in his minors deal at the end of spring training. His first inning impression today? Strikeouts of Springer, Varsho and Kirk

Jason Isbell Explains How Music Is Like The News But For Sounds. Subscribe to The Onion at https://membership.theonion.com/?campaign=701a500001bfegPAAQ.

I missed this earlier, but sharing now as it's cool. The Orioles will have early access for select home games this year for fans to watch batting practice. Gates A and H will open for those games 2.5 hours before first pitch and fans can hang in outfield areas, plus Eutaw Street

Orioles, Under Armour announce multi-year partnership that highlights Gunnar Henderson on scoreboard www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

The Orioles announce they've optioned right-hander Jose Espada and reassigned left-hander Luis De León to the minors. Espada is on the 40-man roster. Could see him in the bullpen at some point this year

The Orioles’ final roster battles of spring training: Infield, outfield, bullpen: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

New pitch alert: Orioles righty Shane Baz added a two-seam fastball. He likes how he can locate it inside against righty batters, and while the movement profile isn’t extreme yet, his command is allowing him to use it in games occasionally. Baz said it’ll be in his back pocket

Quick props to Bluesky for becoming the live sports app btw

What if baseball started doing a Concacaf Champions League-esque fixture during the season? Imagine a midweek matchup in Guadalajara before playing a weekend series at the Angels

I’m the ultimate supporter of “put the ball in play and run like hell” because I sucked at hitting. But to argue, as the broadcast did, that they’d rather someone who never strikes out over someone who hits it 125 mph and does strike out is ignoring the expected OPS for both fictional players

John Smoltz’s not-so-subtle disses of modern baseball are fascinating to me, as sports (and culture) are meant to evolve. Exit velocity drew Smoltz’s ire, and I see the main point (getting on base is more important than loud outs) but it’s hard to argue against avg exit velo being a plus for hitters

A new release from Widowspeak, with an album coming in June. Beautiful, as always open.spotify.com/track/25JwuQ...

Look at this stunning bird I just saw at the ballpark. It had captured a small lizard and handed it off to its mate when I snapped it. What is it, please?

Orioles infielder Bryan Ramos on the uncertainty of bouncing around on waivers this winter, and how he handled it: “I knew this is a business. ... Whatever they do, I don’t have control over that, because if I did, I would just pay myself $100 million, you know what I mean?”

Bryan Ramos said he began practicing at second base about three or four days ago, and he knew the ball would find him in a new position. It did a few times today and he handled the spot well. With that versatility, he could make a case for the final bench spot

Samuel Basallo said it was quite cool to hit against Justin Verlander, a pitcher whom Basallo used to play with on video games growing up. When Basallo doubled, he said that Verlander turned around and said, “nice hit,” once Basallo reached second

And to further help Bryan Ramos' case, he belts a home run against Justin Verlander.

One of Samuel Basallo’s best at-bats this spring just came against Justin Verlander. He fell behind 0-2 in the count, looking at a curveball and changeup. Then Basallo fouled off a backdoor sweeper. Then the first fastball he saw, on the outer edge, Basallo doubled down LF line at 105 mph

Bryan Ramos, who has played mainly third or DH all spring, is starting today at second for the Orioles. He made a good play charging a bouncer on the first play, and he makes a routine out for the third out in the first. If Ramos can be steady at second, that helps his roster case

Why a tennis racket is part of Orioles outfield coach Jason Bourgeois’ training methods www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...

Jordan Westburg says he is remaining optimistic regarding his recovery timeline. He is running, fielding and started swinging with his bottom hand. But he doesn’t know an exact timeline for a return after a PRP injection in his right elbow