Henderson taken out for ‘precautionary reasons’ with side discomfort in Orioles’ 11-8 win over Blue Jays

SARASOTA–What’s happening? Gunnar Henderson left Thursday’s exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays after one inning with lower right side discomfort. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Henderson was injured when he caught a line drive hit by Toronto’s Bo Bichette in the top of the first.

“We took him out for precautionary reasons,” Hyde said. “On the ball that [Bo] Bichette hit, he kind of landed on his side. He felt a little sore. In the first inning of a spring training game, we felt the best thing to do was to go inside and look at it and relax. We’ll continue to monitor it and see how he is tomorrow.”

There was no MRI taken.

Third baseman Jordan Westburg is out with a sore lower back. Hyde says he expects him to be back in a few days. Westburg hasn’t played since the first Grapefruit League game on Saturday.

Félix Bautista threw 25 pitches in a live batting practice to Heston Kjerstad and Gary Sánchez on the back fields of Ed Smith Stadium.

Hyde said Bautista, who is coming off Tommy John surgery after a sensational 2023 season as the Orioles’ closer, will throw one or two more live batting practice sessions before he pitches in Grapefruit League games.

“He’s progressing extremely well. We love how the ball is coming out of his hand right now,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how it goes. Right now, he feels great, and that’s the main thing. His fastball’s ticking up every time out.”

Hyde thinks Bautista needs to pitch about seven innings this spring, though that might include back field work, and that number is flexible.

“We need to reassess after every outing,” Hyde said. “What his recovery is like, and all those types of things.”

Zach Eflin will make his first start of the Grapefruit League season on Friday at 1:05 p.m. when the Orioles play the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Zebby Matthews will start for the Twins.

Cade Povich will start for the Orioles on Saturday against Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sarasota.

Bryan Baker, who is out of options, has retired each of the six batters he’s faced in two appearances.

“He’s throwing the ball so well right now,” Hyde said. “Bake had a really good year for us a couple of years ago, kind of up and down the last year-and-a half. He came in camp ready to go. He was throwing 97, 98 early in camp. The changeup has developed, too. That was a real weapon for us in [2022] coming out of the bullpen. He’s got a lot of confidence in that changeup right now.”

What’s happened? Grayson Rodriguez pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out two and hitting a batter as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays, 11-8, before 5,644 at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday.

“The plan today was just to go out and throw the first inning. After the first, see how we feel with the possibility of a second inning,” Rodriguez said. “With a quick first inning, we were able to go out for the second.”

Rodriguez threw 25 pitches, 15 strikes, in his first start of the spring.

“For the most part I liked it, except for the hit by pitch,” Rodriguez said. “Yanked that one a little bit. Was able to drive the fastball. Changeup was working good, was able to threw a new sweeper once, got a bad swing on it, so I was pretty excited about that.”

The Orioles scored seven runs in the second inning. Former Orioles minor league pitcher Easton Lucas allowed three runs on an RBI double by Ramón Laureano and a two-run home run by Ramón Urías. The Orioles scored four against Andrew Bash on an RBI single by Cedric Mullins and a three-run home run by Tyler O’Neill.

“I’m trying to be simple with my approach up there,” O’Neill said. “Runners in scoring position, so I’m just trying to hit a line drive out there. Caught that one out front a little bit. It’s good to get the first one out of the way and try and do some good work tomorrow and see where we get to.”

Pitchers say during spring training that they’re working on things. O’Neill said “a lot of the work is done in the offseason in the weight room. As I transition closer to the new year, the baseball activities pick up. Just really fundamental work, tee work, small swings, just trying to take it simply. As we get into spring training, it kind of becomes more on-field work. I want to see the ball fly a little bit in [batting practice.] Stretch the arm out a little bit in the field.

“Maybe a week or two goes by there where I feel comfortable getting into games after being comfortable in practice, seeing how those reps look. Took a couple of extra days for me to get out there. Feel like I’m in a good spot now with my timing.”

Samuel Basallo replaced Ryan O’Hearn at first base and homered in the seventh. The ball landed on the back fields in center field.

“I feel really good, thank God,” Basallo said through a translator. “I really can’t believe it … It’s probably in my top 3 right now.”

After retiring the first two batters in the fourth, Colin Selby allowed four runs on a hit, two walks, a hit batsman, a balk and a wild pitch.

Roansy Contreras pitched 1 1/3 spotless innings. Justin Armbruester pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings, striking out one and walking one. Nate Webb struck out two in a spotless seventh. Minor league right-hander Alex Pham allowed a run, walking two in the eighth. Dylan Heid, another minor league right-hander, allowed two runs in the ninth. 

What’s up with? Kade Strowd was added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster last November. Strowd was 6-3 with a 5.44 ERA in 46 games for Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.

“I don’t know if surprised is the right word,” Strowd said about his addition. “Grateful, I guess. I was sitting at home. I got a good phone call that day. Just thankful.”

In two appearances, 1 2/3 innings, Strowd has allowed two unearned runs on one hit, walking four and striking out two.

In 51 1/3 innings, Strowd struck out 71 and walked 28 last season.

“I think I’ve made some pretty good progress,” Strowd said. “I’ve been with the org since 2019. Just every year, I’ve gotten better. Hopefully this year, I’m in good enough shape to make an impact with the big league team. I’m capable of being consistent and a difference maker in the clubhouse, on the field and off the field as well.”

What’s what? With Henderson and Westburg both out, the Orioles are temporarily missing their two All-Stars on the left side of the infield, though the team is downplaying both injuries.

What’s the word? “It’s about getting ready, not trying to prove anything. I joke around that at spring training, I think I hit 100 in my first outing and my back was a little sore after that. This year, it’s all about getting in a rhythm, getting ready, making sure my body feels good for the season.”-Rodriguez on his outing.

What’s the number? 30. “The benchmark is to be able to get to 30 starts, and to be able to do that consistently,” Hyde said of Rodriguez. “Unfortunately, he’s had some injury stuff his first few years of his career and to stay healthy for the entire season, that’s his goal this year, to be able to make 30 starts. We’d love to be able to see him do that.”

What’s the record? 3-2. The Orioles will play the Minnesota Twins on Friday at Hammond Stadium.