The Wandering Disciple

Orioles minor leaguer Brayan Hernandez slides safely into home during a Saturday morning Florida Complex League game. During the offseason, minor league baseball restructured resulting in the loss of a few levels of the minor league ladder to streamline the path to the majors. One of the changes was the in the Rookie level in which the Gulf Coast League was renamed the Florida Complex League and a few teams like the Orioles are fielding two teams in the FCL to help train their younger players that may have been assigned to one of the abandoned leagues like the short-season affiliates. (Photo: August 28, 2021)

When the Orioles open camp this spring in Sarasota, it will be the tenth year they have called Ed Smith Stadium their Birdland South. The Orioles relocated to Sarasota from Fort Lauderdale in 2000. Prior to that, Ed Smith Stadium was home to the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. The stadium was built in 1989 but underwent a major renovation in 2011. While players have begun to report to camp, the spring opener at Ed Smith will be on February 23 against the Boston Red Sox. (Photo: March 1, 2016)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter gives home plate umpire John Hirschbeck a piece of his mind following a controversial call during a spring training game in 2015. Umpires are human and make mistakes but there is nothing better then watching a manager spotlight those mistakes for the crowd to see. A good manager argument is just as much a part of the game as hitting, pitching and fielding. (Photo: March 27, 2015)

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado warms up before a spring training game in 2015.  Drafted by the Orioles as the third overall pick in the 2010 draft, Machado made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2012.  He is one of the premier infielders in the league, earning a spot on the all-star team three times and winning two gold gloves and one platinum gloves.  (Photo: March 11, 2015)

Miami Marlins pitcher Wei-Yin Chen gets work during a minor league spring training game in 2013 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. As spring training progresses, its not uncommon to see a big league pitcher get work in during a minor league game while the big league club is on the road. This allows the big league pitcher to get his innings in their own camp rather than taking a bus to a visitor's ballpark. (Photo: March 13, 2013)

Baltimore Orioles shortstop JJ Hardy ranges out into shallow left to record an out during a Grapefruit League spring training game in 2012.  The popular shortstop has been a member of the Orioles since 2011 and before that he played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins.  Hardy has been named a Gold Glove winner three times as a member of the O's.  (Photo: March 8, 2012)

Sarasota, Florida: The Tampa Bay Rays ventured north to Ed Smith Stadium for a Grapefruit League matchup against fellow AL East competitor Baltimore Orioles. Despite having the long ball working for the home team, it was the consistent offense production of the Rays that lead to the 9-6 Rays win. The Rays jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Steven Souza singled home Corey Dickerson to put the Rays on the board. Souza Jr later scored on an RBI single by Curt Casali to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. Both teams exchanged runs in the second. In the top of the inning Dickerson singled home Braxton Lee. Then in the bottom, Orioles catcher Francisco Pena scored on an RBI single by Craig Gentry to make it 3-1. The Rays pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Lee scored for the second time this afternoon on an RBI single by Nick Franklin. Franklin would later score on a single by Souza Jr to increase the led to 5-1. The Orioles would get back a run in the fi...

Sarasota, Florida:  With the World Baseball Classic just days away, the Baltimore Orioles hosted the defending champion Dominican Republic in exhibition action at Ed Smith Stadium.  The Dominican Republic lineup looked like a team of all-stars as they rolled into Sarasota for Tuesday’s game.  The home team Orioles broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning.  Two runs would score on an RBI single by Hyun Soo Kim to make it 2-0 Orioles. The Dominican Republic countered in the top of the sixth.  They waked the bases loaded and then a free pass to Carlos Santana plated Jose Reyes for their first run of the after.  Later in the inning, Jonathan Villar scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. The Orioles regained the lead in eighth inning.  Audry Perez singled home Sean Coyle to give the Orioles a 3-2. The Dominican Republic countered with a pair of runs in the ninth to take their first lead of the afternoon.  Nelson C...

Sarasota, Florida:  Sunshine, rain showers and baseball all came together at Ed Smith Stadium as the Orioles hosted the Rays in the Fall Instructional League.  In typical Florida fashion it was hot and sunny yet rainy at the same time while the teams went head to head on the field. We are nearing the end of the three week Fall Instructional League where top prospects through-out baseball get extra work in front of the organization coaching staff. Today's game was the final meeting of the fall between the Rays and Orioles. Click on the photo to view my Rays/Orioles photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: As the days wind down to opening day for the short season teams, the players continue to work on their skills during exhibition games at extended spring training.  Since April, the players not assigned to a full season team have spent time in extended spring training, waiting for their chance to break to their 2016 home. Today the Rays headed north to Ed Smith Stadium for a Friday afternoon game against the Orioles.  The extended spring training roster is comprised of lower level minor league players that are in their first couple years of professional baseball.  They play six games a week. The games are focused on player development and there are no scoreboards or frills of a professional baseball game. Extended spring training continues through June 10.  At that time, the players will be assigned to their short-season affiliate for opening day. Click on the photo above to view my Rays/Orioles photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: A sunny Fall day provided the backdrop for some afternoon baseball as the Fall Instructional League is underway in Florida. Today’s game featured the Orioles hosting the Twins. The Fall Instructional League runs for three weeks and features an opportunity for rising minor league stars to have a few additional weeks of instruction under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff. Click on the photo above for photos from the Orioles/Twins game .

Sarasota, Florida: With spring training in its final days, the Tampa Bay Rays took its opening day lineup on the road to face the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. The Rays took an early lead and never really looked back as they won 4-3. The Rays wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring in the first inning. Asdrubal Cabrera double to left to score John Jaso and make it 1-0. The Rays pushed across three more in the third. David DeJesus homered to right. Then a sac fly by Desmond Jennings and an RBI double by Logan Forsythe made it 4-0. The Orioles strung together three one-run innings in the six, seventh and eighth but it wasn’t enough as they Rays held on for a 4-3 win. Click on the photo above to view my Rays/Orioles photo galler y.

Sarasota, Florida: Preparations for the 2015 season conrinues throughout Florida and Arizona as teams make the final adjustments as they prepare for opening day. Today’s contest saw the Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. What started as a home run slugfest quickly turned into a non-event as the skies opened up and the game was cancelled and erased from memory. Click on the photo above to see photos from the Rays/Orioles game before the rains came.

Sarasota, Florida:   Spring training is full swing throughout Florida and Arizona as major league teams prepare for opening day.  Over 7,400 fans packed Ed Smith Stadium to watch the Baltimore Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays for some Grapefruit League action under the sunny Florida skies. The visiting Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead in the first inning.  They wasted no time, tagging the Orioles started Miguel Gonzalez for back to back singled to lead off the inning.  Justin Smoak later drove home Jose Reyes for the first run of the afternoon.  Then Ramon Santiago scored on an RBI double by Kevin Pillar to make it 2-0 Blue Jays. The Jays added to their lead in the fifth inning.  Munenori Kawasaki doubled to left, scoring Josh Tole to increase the Blue Jays lead to 3-0. The Orioles reached the scoreboard by posting a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.  The Orioles loaded the bases with a single by JJ Hardy, a walk by Chris Davis ...

Orioles slugger Chris Davis gets some reps at third base in the instructional league as he prepares for a return to the majors after his suspension is over. (Photo: October 2, 2014)

Sarasota, Florida:  The Fall Instructional League is in full swing as the Orioles hosted the Twins at a sunny Ed Smith Stadium.  Today's game featured a big league surprise as Orioles slugger Chris Davis started at third base for the Orioles.  The fall instructional league is winding down with about a week left before camp breaks for the year. Click on the photo to view my Orioles/Twins photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: It was a soggy, rainy day as the Orioles hosted the Red Sox during the Fall Instructional League. The game time was moved up to avoid a rain-out but it didn't keep the rain away as the teams competed under the light for a day game. Click on the photo for photos from the Orioles/Red Sox game .

Rays prospect Casey Gillaspie hits a towering fly ball during Friday's instructional league game against the Orioles. Gillaspie was drafted by the Rays in the first round of the 2014 Draft out of Wichita State University. (Photo: September 26, 2014)

Sarasota, Florida:  While fall may be in the air in most of the country, the sun is still out in Florida and is shining on the Fall Instructional League.  The Orioles hosted the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium.  The fall instructional league continues through October 7 and features some of the top minor league young prospects in the game. Click on the photo to view my Rays/Orioles photo gallery.

Professional baseball is back on Grapefruit League fields as Major League Baseball hosts the Fall Instructional League.  Minor league prospects will play three weeks of instructional games under the watchful eye of the team's player development staff for an opportunity to show their value to the organization.  (Photo: September 15, 2014)