As the Orioles prepare for the start of the regular season on Thursday in Toronto, let’s review the highs and lows from their time in Florida for spring training.

Most surprising performance: When the Orioles signed Vimael Machin as a minor league free agent last November, it was an overlooked move. Machin had last played in the major leagues in 2022 and had a .208 batting average in 112 games with Oakland.

The infielder, whom the Orioles signed from the Mexican League, hit .419 this spring with 1.061 OPS but didn’t  make the club because there are too many infielders and he doesn’t play much shortstop.

Most disappointing performance: Relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez ended last season as the Orioles’ closer. With the return of Félix Bautista, Domínguez is expected to serve as a setup reliever. However, Domínguez performed abysmally this spring with a 19.50 ERA. In six innings pitched, he’s allowed 13 runs on 15 hits and five home runs.

Most enjoyable reunion: The Orioles’ signing of 37-year-old right-hander Kyle Gibson adds depth to their starting rotation and also adds another good guy and mentor to the clubhouse. Gibson led the Orioles in wins with 15 in 2023 and posted an 8-8 record with the St. Louis Cardinals last year. He returns at a time when five potential starters will begin the season on the injured list: Kyle Bradish, Chayce McDermott, Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers and Tyler Wells. Rodriguez’s right elbow inflammation was discovered after his second start of the spring on March 5^th.

Most painful reunion: When the Orioles faced outfielder Anthony Santander for the first time as a Toronto Blue Jay on March 13^th in Dunedin, Santander scoffed at the idea the Orioles were serious about re-signing him. “No. Zero chance. Zero chance at all. They make an offer. It wasn’t even close. We get it. We understand it.”

Most disappointing demotion: Infielder Coby Mayo was optioned to minor league camp on March 17^th. He had a rough start in Grapefruit League games but played well later in camp. There wasn’t room on the roster for Mayo, but he was disappointed and showed it in his comments. “It’s kind of a lose-lose going to Norfolk,” he said. Later, he walked back those comments in a comment on X, but executive vice-president/general manager Mike Elias said he understood Mayo’s frustration.

Most damaging injury: Even though shortstop Gunnar Henderson will begin the season on the injured list with a strained right intercostal muscle, he could return for the seventh game of the season. Relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge will likely miss most of the first half of the season after surgery to remove cartilage from his left knee. Kittredge was counted on for a crucial role in the bullpen, and could have been the closer on days when Félix Bautista isn’t available. It will be interesting to see who else will close. It could be Yennier Cano, Domínguez or Gregory Soto.

An owner’s scrum: Reporters covering the Orioles aren’t used to availabilities with the team’s owner during spring training. John Angelos spoke with reporters in February 2023 in Sarasota, and vowed not to sell the team. Less than a year later he did, and his successor, David Rubenstein, entertained questions on February and said about the team’s increasing payroll: “I don’t have a financial limit. The team is in very good financial shape. We don’t have debt problems, we don’t have financial challenges of anything like that…We don’t’ have any particular financial constraints.”

Sugano arrives: When spring training opened, 35-year-old Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano was not there. He was getting his visa in order, and he arrived three days after pitchers and catchers reported. About 20 Japanese reporters were there to track his every move, but by his second start, there were only three reporters covering it. Sugano has learned some English, and when asked after a weekend golf outing, who was a better golfer, his catcher, Adley Rutschman, or himself. “Me,” he replied before the question was translated.

Holliday sails through camp: Jackson Holliday was supposed to use this camp to master second base, practice bunting and base-stealing. He bunted for a hit, stole five of seven bases, and played well at secon but because of Henderson’s injury, he returned to his original position, shortstop, and played well there. Holliday hit .333 with an .866 OPS.

Most impressive newcomer: Even though 20-year-old Samuel Basallo appeared briefly in camp in 2024, he didn’t catch because of an elbow injury. This year, he was cleared to play, and showed his skills at catcher. He hit two long home runs, one in Bradenton and another in Sarasota. He could become the first homegrown Dominican Oriole since 2011.

Most impressive free-agent signing: Outfielder Tyler O’Neill has a bodybuilder’s physique, and it’s no surprise. His father, Terry, was named “Mr. Canada” in 1975 because of his bodybuilding prowess. O’Neill is a big hockey fan and is enjoying Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record.

Starting pitcher Charlie Morton, the 41-year-old free agent signee, has become a favorite of some reporters, who are learning from his detailed answers.

Where did he go award? Early in camp, Rodolfo Martinez, a 30-year-old, was intriguing reporters who watched him throw perhaps the fastest pitches in camp. Martinez was an early cut. He hasn’t pitched in professional ball in the U.S. since 2019.

Félix is back: After having Tommy John surgery in October 2023, Bautista returned to action on March 3th with a spotless inning. Though his ERA of 6.75 was disappointing, he struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings, and if the Orioles have a ninth-inning lead on Opening Day, he should get the call.

Biggest legal news of camp: On the day Bautista returned, an agreement between the Orioles and Washington Nationals was announced to end the long-running legal dispute over MASN, which will continue to broadcast Nationals games in 2025, but after that they’ll be able to negotiate their own rights.

Most fun moments of camp: Last year’s Spring Breakout game was heavily hyped with the Orioles’ Jackson Holliday facing Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes in the first game between top prospects. This year’s Orioles’ prospects weren’t as well known, but they provided an entertaining end to the game with a 5-4 win over the Yankees’ prospects in the bottom of the ninth.

Last Saturday, seven Oriole pitchers combined for a no-hitter, the first spring training no-hitter in team history. Left-hander Riley Cooper, who attended LSU with Skenes, retired Pittsburgh in the ninth to complete the no-hitter.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected].