Parade of No. 1 picks headline spring game
Rutschman, Holliday, Skenes, Davis share the same field in Grapefruit League action
SARASOTA, Fla. — Young talent was everywhere on the field Thursday when the Orioles rallied for a 9-8 walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Grapefruit League game that featured four No. 1 overall picks. The Orioles’ Jackson Holliday (2022) and Adley Rutschman (2019) joined the Pirates’ Paul Skenes (2023) and Henry Davis (2021) in representing the top talent from each of their respective draft classes.
Pittsburgh’s half of that quartet stole the show early. The right-handed pitcher Skenes retired both Holliday and Rutschman in his only inning of work, touching 102 mph on his fastball. Davis, who the Pirates hope is their catcher of the future, went 2-for-3 including a three-run home run off Orioles starter Corbin Burnes.
Rutschman went 0-for-3 on the day but Holliday responded with hits in each of his final two at-bats. The young infielder singled in the fifth and roped an RBI triple down the right-field line in the sixth for his first extrabase hit of the spring.
“It was really fun,” Holliday said of being part of the unofficial showcase of No. 1 picks. “I think everyone contributed a little bit, which is kind of cool. Yeah, being out there with four No. 1 picks, it’s pretty special and it’s pretty crazy that we’re both right here in Sarasota.”
Holliday is 3-for-11 so far in Grapefruit League play as he tries to make his case for a spot on the opening day roster. The Orioles have played the natural shortstop exclusively at second base so far. He’s had to get used to playing balls to his right instead of his left and turning double plays from the opposite side but has felt more comfortable there as camp has progressed.
“It’s a little bit different, for sure,” Holliday said. “Obviously, you go out majority of the time for [cut-off throws], but just making sure that before every pitch that I’m prepared to do what I had to do, and it’s been it’s been fun so far. I’m just waiting to get some more grumbles because I feel like I’m just standing out there, but it’s been good.”
Kolten Wong enters second base conversation:
The conversation surrounding the Orioles’ second base job has largely centered on Holliday this spring, and for good reason. He’s the consensus top prospect in the sport and Orioles officials have left open the possibility of him winning the job out of camp.
Should he not prove ready for a starting job in the major leagues, Baltimore has some insurance in the recently acquired Kolten Wong. The Orioles signed the two-time Gold Glove Award winner to a minor league deal Wednesday, giving them an experienced option to turn to at the position if they decide to option Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk to start the season.
“Obviously, a young team and team that’s been playoff bound last year,” Wong said in the clubhouse Thursday of why he signed with the Orioles. “Just the ability to come in and try and earn a job. That’s kind of all you can ask for in this situation so I’m excited, obviously. Talking with the guys and trying to figure out, the situation seems like a good fit, so I’m excited.”
Wong, 33, is only one year removed from being named a Silver Slugger Award finalist at second base. While his production slipped in 2023 and ultimately led to the Seattle Mariners designating him for assignment, Wong acknowledged some off-the-field life changes took a toll on him mentally; his wife gave birth to the couple’s second son a week before the season and he didn’t get to see him for the month that followed.
With last season in the rearview mirror, Wong could be a sneaky signing for the Orioles if he can play strong defense and put up offensive numbers close to his career average slash line of .256/.330/.390. Manager Brandon Hyde plans to give Wong some time to settle in before getting him into any spring training games.
“I’m going to give him a couple of days here,” Hyde said. “He just flew from Arizona so get some batting practice in, get his legs underneath him and then I’m going to be mixing him in at second base.”
Around the horn
Trailing 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles scored four runs to walk off with the victory. Silas Ardoin drove in two with a triple, Errol Robinson singled home Ardoin and Daniel Johnson brought in the winning run on a single to left field. The Orioles are 6-1 in exhibition play.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was scratched from the Orioles’ lineup about an hour after the initial starting nine was released because he was sick, Hyde said.
The three-run home run doesn’t look pretty in the box score, but Burnes said after his appearance that he was more worried about getting some work in with his cutter and sinker than putting away hitters. Burnes felt his arm-side cutter played well but felt his command of his other version of the pitch he throws glove-side could use some work.
•Infielders Jorge Mateo and Tyler Nevin helped their cases for making the Orioles’ roster. Mateo blasted two home runs, both to left field, to improve his spring batting average to .400 (4-for-10). Nevin, who started at first in place of Mountcastle, took advantage of the opportunity by racking up three hits. He’s 7-for-12 so far this spring.
Closer Craig Kimbrel made his Orioles spring debut, allowing two hits including a solo home run off the bat of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. His debut was delayed by a few days because of a minor quad injury he suffered during a live bullpen session Sunday.