Orioles observations on Cedric Mullins’ last WBC tuneup, Nolan Hoffman’s ‘really cool’ day and more
Cedric Mullins figures the experience he’s about to have won’t hit him until he lands in Arizona on Monday morning. The change in temperature will provide a wake-up call of its own.
Sunday’s exhibition against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field marked the Orioles’ center fielder’s final game with the club this spring before leaving camp to play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He’s looking forward to participating in the tournament, even if it means leaving Florida behind.
“Gonna miss the weather,” he said. “I hear it’s cold out there.”
An All-Star in 2021 amid what became the first 30-home run, 30-steal season in Orioles history, Mullins said the event will be “an extended All-Star Game.” He looks forward to interacting with Team USA’s other outfielders, especially former MVPs Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, and shortstops Trea Turner and Tim Anderson. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. is the team’s hitting coach.
“I know that he’s really excited,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “What an honor for him. To watch him represent our country, we’re thrilled for him. It’s gonna be an awesome experience.
“To be able to play with those caliber players in that kind of stage, something he’s never gonna forget.”
Anthony Santander, the Orioles’ other participating outfielder who will play for Venezuela alongside left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez, will play one more game Monday before leaving. Right-hander Dean Kremer, who will pitch for Israel, had his last outing Friday; Kyle Bradish, his roommate this spring and offseason training partner, said it will be strange not having Kremer around.
“It’ll be a little more quiet,” he said with a laugh.
‘This is really cool’
Sunday’s game came at the Rays’ regular-season home, with damage from Hurricane Ian preventing the team from using its normal spring training facility in Port Charlotte. Hyde hoped the young players the Orioles brought up from Sarasota would value the experience of playing in an actual major league venue.
Nolan Hoffman certainly did. Selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in 2021, Hoffman had already pitched twice this spring as an extra pitcher called up from the team’s minor league camp, finishing off innings when members of major league camp reach their pitch counts. On Sunday, the Orioles had an extra inning available on their schedule, and they decided to give it to Hoffman, a sidearming right-hander. It happened to be the bottom of the ninth at a big league ballpark.
“I’ve never pitched in a major league stadium before, not even for a camp or anything,” Hoffman said. “All day, I’ve just been super grateful and just saying to myself how cool it is. I stepped out on the mound, and to have all the lights and everything, I was just like, ‘This is really cool.’”
The Orioles surprised Hoffman, 25, as he was shagging flyballs during pregame batting practice; he said it was “probably” for the best he didn’t have to sleep on the news. Hoffman had a 3.62 ERA in 20 minor league games, 18 at Double-A, last season, but dealt with a nerve injury in his pitching elbow. He recovered to pitch 10 strong outings in the Arizona Fall League, but across all of his appearances last year, he didn’t record a save.
He took the mound in the ninth with the chance to earn his second of the spring. The outing began with Hoffman already behind 1-0, called for a pitch clock violation — one of several in the game — because he threw his final warmup pitch with fewer than 30 seconds left. That plate appearance resulted in a walk, but he allowed only an infield single the rest of the way, striking out two to finish off Baltimore’s 5-2 victory.
“I like pitching the ninth inning and the late innings,” Hoffman said. “I was excited.”
Hyde said if the Orioles have another inning become available as the spring continues, they’ll certainly consider Hoffman, who hopes to continue to take advantage of the opportunities the organization gives him.
“It’s been great,” Hoffman said. “Coming over here last year, not knowing anybody, last spring training was kind of tough, just having to be the new kid on the block. This year, I was so excited just to come back and just see all my friends. This group of guys is so special, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Making a strong impression
Hoffman wasn’t the only Rule 5 pick to continue making a strong impression this spring. Andrew Politi, taken from Boston in the major league Rule 5 draft in December, worked his third scoreless appearance of the spring. Of the eight swings taken against him, five were whiffs, with two of those coming on a curveball that Hyde said he and the Orioles are big fans of. As a major league Rule 5 pick, Politi must be traded or placed on waivers if doesn’t make the opening day roster.
Nonroster pitcher Reed Garrett bounced back from some early-outing trouble with a nine-pitch inning that featured two strikeouts. Hyde called him “a highlight of the day.”
After outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad singled to improve to 7-for-11 this spring, Lewin Díaz followed with a run-scoring single that was his fifth hit in nine at-bats. After being designated for assignment five times this offseason — including twice by the Orioles — Díaz is one of many players in camp competing to be Baltimore’s backup first baseman. Hyde praised his “handsy swing” and ability to make hard contact while lauding his defense.
“I’m gonna keep giving him opportunities because it’s really interesting, and the way he can play defense is extraordinary,” Hyde said.
After allowing one run over three innings in his second spring training start, Bradish was pleased that he threw a first-pitch strike to all but one of the 11 batters he faced. Behind him, Mike Baumann also gave up a run in a three-inning outing, loading the bases with no outs in his third inning before recovering to strike out the side.
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