The Wandering Disciple

Jeff Keppinger throws pop ups during a kid's clinic during Spring Training 2009. The annual clinic was a way for the Reds to reach out to the community and inspire the next generation of kids to follow their dreams of playing baseball.  The Cincinnati Reds held spring training in Sarasota from 1998 through 2009. Ed Smith Stadium was their spring home and during each season they hosted a Kid's Clinic in which current players and coaches spent an afternoon working with local kids. The Reds would later move to Goodyear, Arizona and today the stadium is the spring home of the Baltimore Orioles.  Taken: February 21, 2009 at Ed Smith Stadium (Sarasota, FL)

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)

Frank Tolentino catches a fly ball in front of the FLY SRQ billboard at Ed Smith Stadium. Ed Smith Stadium is the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles and the offers direct flight to Baltimore making for easy flights from Orioles fans to visit Birdland South. (Photo: August 28, 2021)

When you look around the spring training home of the Orioles, you will find hints of Baltimore all over. From the food at the concession stands to some of the iconic orange bird signage. But look closely at the small details and you find even more Baltimore nostalgia. The seats at the renovated stadium are from Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The seats were removed during a project at Camden Yards and then refurbished and installed at the Orioles southern nest. (Photo: August 28, 2021)

Orioles infielder Tim Beckham runs out of the box after a hit and run play during a Spring Training game in 2018. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays as the first overall pick of the 2008 draft, Beckham has spent his career split between the Rays, Orioles and Seattle Mariners. He became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season. (Photo: February 28, 2018)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher Chris Carden looks in for the signs during a 2017 Gulf Coast League game.  The communication between catcher and pitcher is one of the most critical links in the game.  From behind the plate, the catcher gives signs to the pitcher of what pitch to throw and moves the infielders into position to hopefully set-up the play and record an out.  (Photo: July 21, 2017)

Orioles minor league pitcher Stefan Crichton brings the heat during a summer Gulf Coast League game at Ed Smith Stadium in 2017. Crichton is currently a reliever for the Arizona Diamonbacks. He was drafted by the Orioles in 2013 draft from TCU. He spent a few years in the Orioles farm system before making his major league debut on April 17, 2017 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles eventually traded Crichton to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018 where he remains today. (Photo: July 17, 2017)

Orioles minor leaguer Bryndan Arredondo gets hit by a pitch during an afternoon Gulf Coast League game in 2017. There is a saying in youth baseball "Hit or be hit", well at this level of professional baseball I wouldn't want to be hit by a fastball or any pitch for that matter. The Gulf Coast League is an entry level league in professional baseball with teams consisting of newly drafted players and international signees playing their first season in the states. The batter here Arredondo was the Orioles 23rd round draft pick in the 2017 draft, playing in just his second professional game. (Photo: June 29, 2017)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league coach Craig Albernaz waves a runner home during a fall instructional game in 2016. As a player, Albernaz was a catcher in the Rays farm system. He spent nine season in the minor league, eight with the Rays and one with the Detroit Tigers, reaching as high as Triple-A. When he retired as a player, he went into coach and coached in the Rays system before being called up to the major to be the bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants. (Photo: September 30, 2016)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league prospect Andrew Velazquez charges home after being waved home by his coach during a Fall Instructional League game in 2016. While COVID-19 continues to keep players off the field, there are talks going on behind the scenes with clubs and the league regarding the start of the season possibly in July. But until then, there are plenty of photos from past games to keep the baseball spirit alive. (Photo: September 19, 2016)

Rays minor leaguer Juan Carlos Arias has his eyes fixed on home plate as the pitcher delivers during a Fall Instructional League game in Sarasota, Florida. The ballparks in Florida and Arizona are typically busy with baseball all year long as the clubs groom minor league players into potential big league stars. (Photo: August 19, 2016)

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)

Rays minor leaguer Jeremy Hadley congratulates teammate Thomas Milone after scoring during a Gulf Coast League game in 2013.  Both players were drafted by the Rays in the 2013 draft.  Milone is currently with the Charlotte Stone Crabs and Hadley was released by the organization after two seasons.  (Photo: August 16, 2013)

Riley Unroe rounds second and digs for third during a Gulf Coast League game in 2013 during his first season of professional baseball.  Unroe was drafted by Rays in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, Arizona.  He is currently still in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, playing for Advanced-A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.  (Photo: July 19, 2013)

Sarasota, Florida: The home team came out swinging as the GCL Orioles defeated the GCL Rays 9-0 on Friday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles broke the scoreless tie in the third inning. A two run double by Carlos Baez gave them a 2-0 lead. The Orioles extended their lead an inning later with a five run fourth inning. Two runs came on an RBI single by Robbie Thorburn and three more came via a double by Willy Yahn to extend the lead to 7-0. The Orioles picked up another pair of runs in the sixth inning. An RBI single by JC Escarra and an RBI single by Yahn gave the Orioles the 9-0 win. Click on the photo above to view my Orioles/Rays photo gallery .

Sarasota, Florida: The Gulf Coast League season kicked off this week and the Orioles and Twin met for a four game series to start the campaign. Thursday afternoon's game was played at Ed Smith Stadium and those in attendance were treated to a pitcher duel that saw the Twins pick up a 1-0 win. The only run of the afternoon game in the top of the first inning. Akil Baddoo doubled to left and later scored on a ground ball by Alex Robles to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. From that point on, pitching and defense highlighted the afternoon. Pedro Garcia tossed 6 2/3 shut-out innings to pick up the win. Vadim Balan closed out the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the win for the Twins. Click on the photo above to view my Orioles/Twins photo gallery .

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...