FORT MYERS, Florida–What’s happening? Grayson Rodriguez, who’s sidelined with right elbow discomfort, is scheduled to play catch for the first time since the Orioles shut him down. Rodriguez last pitched on March 5^th and will begin the season on the injured list.

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson is still sidelined with a strained right intercostal. Manager Brandon Hyde said Henderson hit on the field and participated in defensive drills. “Progressing well, still a ways away from game activity,” he said.

Hyde said that Henderson will need to play in Grapefruit League games, which end on Sunday, to be ready for Opening Day.

“It’s going to be really tough. He’s got to get some at-bats,” Hyde said. “Hopefully, we can get him in games sometime soon. He needs to get at-bats and feel good before we make that decision.”

Infielder Jorge Mateo, who played his first game on Sunday after Tommy John surgery in August, had a scheduled day off.

Hyde said that the roster decisions might not be final by Sunday when the Orioles leave Florida for a final exhibition game in Washington next Monday.

“I think everything’s going to be in pencil when we leave here,” Hyde said. “And then more decisions after we break because we have so many guys that are iffy right now. Not sure about Gunnar, we’re hopeful. Doubtful with Mateo. There’s all these things going on that we have. We’re not sure roster-wise where we are.”

Even with indecision, Hyde is contemplating possible lineups.

“You’re constantly thinking about it,” he said. “Trying to set up guys for success. I led off [Jordan] Westburg yesterday against a lefty. I wanted to try to get him up four times. See what he looks like. He [led off] sometimes last year.”

Charlie Morton will make his fourth start of the spring when the Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at 6:05 at Ed Smith Stadium. The 41-year-old right-hander has thrown six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out five. Morton last threw in a game on March 8^th and threw four innings on the back fields last week.

Eric Lauer will start for the Blue Jays. Anthony Santander said last Thursday that he will make the trip from Dunedin.

The Orioles are off on Wednesday.

What’s happened? Hyde brought a lineup with few players likely to make the Opening Day roster, and this group of Orioles pounded the Boston Red Sox, 12-3, before 9,194 at JetBlue Park on Monday.

“I’m really happy with how we played,” Hyde said. “I was impressed with our young guys. I thought we pitched extremely well.”

The Orioles scored eight runs in the sixth inning, sending 13 batters to the plate. Liván Soto had a two-run double.

Coby Mayo, Luis Vásquez and Enrique Bradfield were hit by pitches. “Everybody that we took out of the game, they’re OK,” Hyde said. “We took them out for precaution. At this point, it’s soft-tissue stuff and they’re going to be sore tonight. We’ll reevaluate tomorrow. They should be fine, all of those guys.”

Vásquez had three hits and two RBIs. Daz Cameron had three hits and drove in two runs. Bradfield drove in two runs.

Roansy Contreras, who is out of options and is a fringe contender for a bullpen spot, was the Orioles’ starter.

“It’s a guy that we saw in Pittsburgh last year that pitched high-leverage one- or two-inning appearances,” Hyde said. “We stretched him out in camp. The first opportunity for him to show us what he can do against a really good lineup. Trying to stretch him out as much as we possibly can to give us some options, see how things happen the last 10 days. I like his stuff. He throws hard. He throws strikes, good breaking ball. We’re going to take a look at him.”

Minor league pitcher Zach Fruit, who was the Orioles’ ninth-round selection in the 2023 draft, had his second straight promising outing. Fruit, who pitched 4 2/3 innings of a combined no-hitter last July for High-A Aberdeen, allowed just 6.6 hits per nine innings in 2024. Last Tuesday, Fruit gave up two hits and struck out five in three innings against the New York Yankees.

Against a group of Red Sox regulars, Fruit allowed two runs, one unearned, on two hits in three innings. Fruit struck out four and walked one.

“It’s been really fun. It’s definitely part of the development phase for me,” Fruit said. “I think the biggest thing is I can go out and compete with these big league hitters. Just get guys out at this level. Overall, just for the confidence, it’s been really good for me.”

Fruit is not among the Orioles’ top 30 prospects, but that doesn’t bother him. “I really tend not to look at those,” Fruit said. “Just really go out there and have fun. It’s still a game, go out there and get outs and get quick outs.”

Fruit wasn’t intimidated by Boston’s potential Opening Day lineup. “I guess now, looking back on it, it’s pretty cool,” Fruit said. “It’s still baseball. It’s still a lineup 1 through 9.”

Another minor league pitcher, Blake Money, threw three shutout innings, giving up one hit.

“Money and Fruit, I thought both of those guys threw the ball outstanding,” Hyde said. “That was fun to watch.“

What’s up with? Matt Bowman has a 2.70 ERA in six games. He’s struck out 10 and walked two. He threw a spotless inning on Sunday and has allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Bowman was 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 games for the Orioles last season, and is in camp as a non-roster reliever, but has a chance to make the club because of the knee injury to Andrew Kittredge.

“He gives you a unique look, unique look out of the bullpen,” Hyde said. “He’s been around for a while. He knows how to pitch, different than anybody else we have. He’s going to be a decision at the end of camp.”

What’s what? The Orioles wore green caps for St. Patrick’s Day but didn’t bring either Ryan O’Hearn or Tyler O’Neill to Fort Myers. Neither O’Hearn nor O’Neill wore a green shirt in the clubhouse on Monday morning, but Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano did.

What’s the word? “You’re always playing with stuff right now, but you are constantly thinking, talking about it with my advance team and the other coaches on how we’re going to play matchups and things like that.” -Hyde on possible Oriole batting orders.

What’s the number? 27/3. The Orioles allowed 15 runs to Pittsburgh on Saturday and 12 to Philadelphia on Sunday. Against a top-tier Boston lineup, they gave up just three.

What’s the record? 11-12-1. The Orioles will play the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m.