O’s need to add fuel to their analytics fire

Whether they meant to or not, the pitchers targeted during the Orioles’ teardown trades last summer came from organizations that not only had embraced baseball’s data revolution but had found ways to improve their players with the fruits of it.

Then, those pitchers were plucked from the best seasons of their young careers and placed into an organization that hadn’t yet embraced those tools.

Pitching development has barreled forward in recent years, with the proliferation of data-tracking systems, speed cameras and reams of information helping teams refine and advance the arsenals of their young arms.

KEVIN RICHARDSON/BALTIMORE SUN New Orioles general manager Mike Elias is bringing a more analytics-based approach than the club was used to. The Orioles report to spring training Tuesday.