SARASOTA–What’s happening? Manager Brandon Hyde said that Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson is progressing in his rehabilitation from a strained right intercostal muscle, but “we are running out of time right now.” Hyde is referring to the fact that Henderson has little time now to get ready to start the season with the Orioles because he hasn’t played since February 27th. The Orioles want to be careful with their best player.

They also want to be careful with their closer. Félix Bautista is scheduled to pitch for the fifth time this spring, and although he feels good after missing the 2024 season because of Tommy John surgery, Hyde says no decision has been made on his status.

Starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who will begin the season on the injured list with discomfort in his right elbow, threw for the second time since he was shut down for 10 days.

Hyde did say that 41-year-old Charlie Morton will start Game 2 of the season on March 28th. Zach Eflin will start the season opener on March 27 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Albert Suárez will start his fourth game of the spring on Friday night when the Orioles play the Detroit Tigers in their final game of the Grapefruit Legue season at Ed Smith Stadium at 6:05. Suárez, who is competing against Cade Povich for the fifth starter spot, has a 5.82 ERA in five games. He’s allowed 11 runs on 22 hits in 17 innings with 13 strikeouts and six walks.

Detroit will start Tarik Skubal, who was the unanimous winner of the Cy Young Award last year. Skubal led the American League in wins, strikeouts and ERA.

The game will be broadcast on WBAL/98 Rock with Geoff Arnold and Brett Hollander.

What’s happened? Jazz Chisholm drove in five runs against Tomoyuki Sugano on a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run home run in the third in the New York Yankees’ 9-7 win over the Orioles before a sellout crowd of 8,498 at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday night.

“I thought besides the two Chisholm at-bats, he was pretty good,” Hyde said. “I thought he had a good outing. He got his pitch count up. It was good for him to see some guys he’s going to face during the season in the AL East.”

It was the largest crowd in Sarasota in exactly five years.

The 35-year-old Sugano allowed the five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He did retire his last six batters and was replaced by Seranthony Domínguez. Catcher Adley Rutschman said the former Japanese League pitcher was working on his slider.

“My command gradually got better. The first couple of innings, my command wasn’t there,” Sugano said through a translator. “I kind of felt bad for Adley, but as the game went on, it went better and better. My last outing, my splitter wasn’t quite there. So, for the past week, I focused on throwing the splitter, and I was able to do so this game.”

Sugano faced Aaron Judge for the first time and walked the 6-foot-7 Yankees slugger in his first two at-bats before he struck him out.

“If we’re talking about the size of him, I don’t think I’ve ever faced someone like that, but speaking about today, I gave out two walks, and that wasn’t really acceptable, so I’ve got to work on that.”

In his first four Grapefruit League starts, Sugano gave up just five hits in 10 1/3 scoreless innings.

“I really liked what he did tonight,” Rutschman. “Facing a lot of the Yankees’ starters and getting a feel for how his stuff plays, and I think, he did, honestly, exactly what he wanted to do tonight. Worked the ball around the zone and just go out there and compete.”

Rutschman hit his third home run of the spring, a three-run home run against Will Warren in the third. Ryan O’Hearn homered in the first inning, his second.

“He’s catching really, really well, throwing the ball well, taking good at-bats,” Hyde said about Rutschman. “He came in ready to go and he showed it.”

Rutschman is hitting .361 with a 1.063 OPS this spring.

“I’ve been feeling good,” Rutschman said. “It’s a long season with lots of things to come, but as of right now, I feel really good. I’ve got great players and great coaches around me. I think everyone is excited to get going. I think our team’s identity is still to come throughout this year, but at least from what I can see, our goal is to try and eliminate external noise, external expectations and focus on what we can do.

“Our goal is to go as far as we can and win a World Series. That’s the ultimate goal, and I think at the end of the day, it comes down to the guys in the clubhouse, and us just banding together, and weathering the storm because adversity is going to come at some point. I have a lot of faith in what we can do together. It’s going to be cool to see everyone come together, a challenging season ahead. I have all the faith in the world in our guys.”

Domínguez allowed Anthony Volpe’s home run in 1 1/3 innings. He’s allowed runs in five of his six appearances, and five home runs in six innings.

Keegan Akin pitched a scoreless seventh, and Matt Bowman, who’s battling for a bullpen spot, allowed three runs in the eighth.

Ramón Urías, returning from a strained left hamstring, grounded out and walked in two at-bats. He played five innings at third base.

The Orioles scored twice in the ninth. Jorge Mateo had an RBI single, his first of the spring, and Vimael Machin drove in a run with a double. Machin is batting .425 with a 1.065 OPS this spring.

What’s up with? Heston Kjerstad has had a quiet spring training. He was hitless in three at-bats and is hitting .237 with a .751 OPS.

Before spring training, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias expressed confidence in Kjerstad.

“I don’t know that he needs to tear the cover off the ball in the Grapefruit League. We’ve seen him do that already,” Elias said. “He’s played pretty well in a limited opportunity at the major league level. He’s played really well in the minors. He’s 25, going on 26.

“This is a big opportunity for him. I think he’s earned the right to get a lot of bats in the corner outfield and the DH spot, specifically against right-handed pitching. Long-term, when we took him, one of the best hitters in college baseball. He can hit left-handed pitching. The big leagues are tough. That’s why we’re putting together a team that has right-handed batters as well.”

What’s what? Rutschman and Sugano went golfing last weekend, and Rutschman enjoyed getting to know him. When Sugano was asked who is the better golfer he answered, “me,” in English.

Rutschman said Sugano’s English is better than Rutschman’s Japanese.

“He understands a lot of what you’re saying. I’ve been trying to learn a couple of words here and there, but he definitely knows more English,” he said.

What’s the word? “He’s a funny guy, a cool dude. I know with the language barrier, it’s kind of tough sometimes to make those connections. He seems like a really down-to-earth guy, works his butt off every single day out there. To see a guy like that in a new environment, getting comfortable and doing his thing has been really cool for me to watch, and I think everyone else.”-Rutschman on Sugano.

What’s the number? 50. The Yankees-Orioles game was delayed by 50 minutes, the first rain delay of the spring. On February 24^th, the Braves-Orioles game was rained out.

What’s the record? 12-13-1. The Orioles will play the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at 6:05 at Ed Smith Stadium.