Baumann dazzles, Teheran battles as O's weigh options

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Orioles have some nice options in their pitching staff. Just past the midpoint of the Grapefruit League schedule, manager Brandon Hyde is getting more clarity.

Mike Baumann, one of last season’s stalwarts, worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Monday’s 5-3 defeat to the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, further solidifying his reliable status.

And although the results weren’t as encouraging for 33-year-old Julio Teheran, who allowed four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings, he remains a veteran insurance policy as a long reliever and potential starter.

The 28-year-old Baumann (10-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 60 appearances last season) got out of the third inning with a runner in scoring position by striking out Austin Wells, who couldn’t catch up to a 97 mph four-seam fastball.

“The overall stuff has just picked up from last year,’’ Hyde said. “There’s a little bit more rhythm in his delivery. There’s more life on his fastball, and he threw really good curveballs today. I love the way he’s throwing it right now.’’

The 6-foot-4 Baumann can look imposing on the mound. Once, he was projected as a starter, but he appears to be adjusting well to the full-time bullpen role he assumed last season.

“You try to learn from each outing and build off each one, whether it’s good or bad,’’ Baumann said. “Coming into this season, [the key] is mentally being able to carry it on. [Knowing my role] helped in the offseason.

“There are a ton of good arms here, and you’re just trying to have no regrets. At the end of the day, whatever happens … happens. It’s just mentality and routine on a day-to-day basis. It’s knowing how to pitch to guys, what my arsenal is, knowing how it would be at the Major League level and taking care of my body.’’

For Teheran, there was frustration in facing a mostly frontline Yankee lineup, which included some patient batters. He walked three, including a pair of passes to Anthony Rizzo, who took one swing in nine pitches. Overall, though, Teheran said he felt good while being stretched out to 52 pitches.

“I felt like they had a plan with me coming into the game,’’ said Teheran, who has 81 Major League victories with four teams and signed a Minor League contract with the Orioles. “I was like, ‘Why don't they swing at those pitches that were there for me and they looked close?’ But that’s part of the game. You get teams like this, they’re really good [at selective hitting].’’

“That’s a tough top half of the order there [with the Yankees],’’ Hyde said. “Teheran has to be on the edges. Maybe he missed the location a couple of times, but he got to [52] pitches and changed speeds [well], so that was OK.’’

Teheran, who pitched three scoreless innings in his previous two spring outings, said he made a mistake on a first-inning changeup, which Wells smacked to the wall for a one-out bases-clearing double. After that, though, he bore down and escaped the inning by coaxing a pair of groundouts.

“I feel like I made the pitches when I needed to,’’ Teheran said.

Basallo makes debut
Prized catching prospect Samuel Basallo, 19, made his Grapefruit League debut and was 0-for-2 as a designated hitter. He’s recovering from a right elbow stress fracture and isn’t expected to catch until late April at the earliest.

Basallo, who signed a $1.3 million deal out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, played at three Minor League levels last season. The Orioles’ No. 2 prospect finished with a .313 batting average, a .953 OPS and 20 home runs.

“I think he’s tired of hitting on the back fields,’’ Hyde said. “I know he was excited about this. It was fun to see him out there today.’’

Hyde said the organization “obviously really has high hopes for him’’ and called Basallo a “big-time talented kid.’’ Hyde also said there are no long-term worries about Basallo’s elbow injury.

“He wouldn’t be out there if there was [any concern],’’ Hyde said.

Basallo grounded out to the pitcher in the eighth. In the ninth, with the tying runs aboard and two outs, Basallo hit a fly to left field to end the game.

“I feel really happy,’’ Basallo said through a team interpreter. “Obviously, it felt really nice to go out there and have a couple of swings. It was a really nice experience overall.

“The real goal is being able to put [up results] once I get to the big leagues, but it was really nice to go out there today.’’

Basallo said he feels no discomfort in his elbow, “especially when I’m out there swinging.’’ He said his throwing is also going well and “whenever they feel ready for me to do it in a game, I’m ready. … It’s their decision.’’