Saturday, August 02

Welcome to another edition of the Orioles Beat newsletter, which is landing in inboxes on Tuesdays and Saturdays this spring.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The second edition of Spring Breakout -- a four-day prospect showcase hosted by MLB during Spring Training -- took place over the weekend, and it was a rousing success. Especially on Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, where an energized crowd cheered on the future stars who fill the Orioles’ farm system.

Here were some standouts from the O’s Spring Breakout victory -- a 5-4 walk-off win over Yankees prospects.

RHP Keeler Morfe (O's No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline)
Morfe’s line from his Spring Breakout start -- two-thirds of an inning, two hits, two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout -- doesn't come close to telling the full story.

The Venezuelan right-hander is only 18 years old and has never faced upper-level Minor Leaguers, having made only four appearances at Single-A Delmarva last year. Morfe’s command needs improvement, but his stuff is there, as he showed by blowing a 99 mph fastball past George Lombard Jr. for a game-opening swinging strikeout.

“I was a little nervous, but I would say it was a proud moment for me and my family,” Morfe said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “It was great to be able to come out here and compete.”

OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (O’s No. 3)
Nobody in Baltimore’s farm system is faster than Bradfield, who showcased his 80-grade speed. The 2023 first-round pick led off the bottom of the first with a single, advanced from first to third on an errant pickoff throw and then scored on a wild pitch with an impressive headfirst slide. The 23-year-old later singled again and stole a base in the sixth.

Bradfield dedicated his performance to his late friend Isaiah Hood, who died in a motorcycle accident last week.

“I would say this is probably the biggest highlight [of the spring] for me. It’s been a challenging week,” Bradfield said. “So for me to come out here, it’s meant a lot to me personally.”

RHP Patrick Reilly (O’s No. 10)
Like Bradfield, Reilly is a former Vanderbilt University standout. The pair of Commodores alums faced off with three of their old teammates on the Yankees’ side, sparking a mini-Vandy reunion.

The 23-year-old right-hander, who was acquired in a trade with the Pirates last July, tossed two scoreless innings without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out two.

“I think it’s really a representation of [Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin] and the program he has going on down there,” Reilly said.

OF Vance Honeycutt (O’s No. 5)
Bradfield isn’t the only former first-round pick with wheels in the Orioles’ system. Honeycutt, their 2024 first-rounder, has 65-grade speed, which the 21-year-old used to leg out an inside-the-park home run in the fourth.

It was the former University of North Carolina standout’s first homer since joining Baltimore’s organization last July.

“I kind of got help with some wind, I guess, and then once I saw it drop, just kept running,” Honeycutt said. “Just tried to keep running as fast as I could.”

OF Jud Fabian (O’s No. 23)
The Orioles deployed a starting outfield featuring three primary center fielders with Bradfield (left), Honeycutt (center) and Fabian (right). The expectations were high.

“I don't think anything should be able to drop tonight,” the 24-year-old Fabian said before the game.

He was right, and he did his part. Fabian made a spectacular jumping catch to rob T.J. Rumfield in the sixth.

SS Leandro Arias (O’s No. 20)
The Baby Birds sent the O’s fans home happy with an exciting rally in the bottom of the ninth.

DJ Layton (Orioles’ No. 30) led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, he scored on a triple by fellow 2024 Draft pick Austin Overn (No. 29). Then, with two outs, Arias drove a single up the middle for a walk-off victory.

Arias had a cooler of Gatorade dumped onto him on the field amid a celebration of teammates.

“Very exciting, especially in that moment,” Arias said via Quinones. “I feel like there was great energy all game, and just really happy I was able to come through there.”

The Orioles are offering single-game ticket sales for the 2025 season with no ticketing/order fees until tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET. (Maryland State Admission taxes/fees will still be applied.)

For more information on the sale and to buy tickets, visit Orioles.com.

On Monday, the Orioles announced the hiring of Tony Mayhoff as vice president of corporate partnerships. Mayhoff will lead the corporate partnerships department, including sponsorship, advertising sales and partnership marketing.

Mayhoff has more than a decade of experience in commercial management, most recently serving as senior vice president & chief commercial officer for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports.

“Throughout his career, Tony has demonstrated the ability to work with partners taking a consultative approach that has elevated brands bringing stories to life,” Orioles chief revenue officer Don Rovak said in a statement.  “We are so excited for Tony to bring his strategic and creative approach to lead our partnership team.”

“I look forward to cultivating strong relationships in the Baltimore community and working with partners to innovatively connect business goals with meaningful opportunities,” Mayhoff said in a statement.

• A sleeper player to keep an eye on in 2025? Vimael Machín, a 31-year-old infielder who has put up big numbers in Spring Training after having success in Mexico. Read more >>

• The Orioles have seen a “different” version of Jackson Holliday this spring. The 21-year-old is doing it all, including raking at the plate. Read more >>

• Gunnar Henderson (mild right intercostal strain) is remaining hopeful he could be ready for Opening Day on March 27 in Toronto. Read more >>

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