Here's the Orioles' Spring Breakout roster
Jake Rill
@JakeDRillSARASOTA, Fla. -- Samuel Basallo has already had an impressive spring, making noise with his loud rounds of batting practice and his powerful swings during Grapefruit League action. Soon, the Orioles¡¯ top prospect will again be taking his talents to the Spring Breakout stage.
The 20-year-old Basallo is set to participate in Spring Breakout -- MLB¡¯s annual four-day prospect showcase held during Spring Training -- for the second straight spring. It will be an opportunity for more to see what Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde has already seen.
¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s surprised anybody that¡¯s been around him,¡± Hyde recently said. ¡°I¡¯ve just been so impressed with his confidence, his maturity on the field, our conversations. I think that he¡¯s a special player, and he¡¯s fitting in really, really well. The tools are off the charts.¡±
Here¡¯s everything to know about Spring Breakout and a look at the roster, which will feature Basallo and plenty of the other top players from the O¡¯s Minor League ranks.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball¡¯s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The second edition will be held from March 13-16 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. Sixteen exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization¡¯s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates the sport¡¯s budding talent.
When is the Orioles¡¯ game?
O¡¯s and Yankees prospects will face off on Saturday, March 15 at 6:05 p.m. ET at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
How can I tune in?
Which position players are expected to play?
Basallo is the headliner for the Orioles, and he¡¯ll be joined by a trio of exciting, young outfielders -- Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 3 Orioles prospect), Vance Honeycutt (No. 5) and Dylan Beavers (No. 6). It¡¯ll be the second consecutive Spring Breakout appearance for Bradfield, the 2023 first-round Draft pick who used his 80-grade speed to leg out an infield single in last year¡¯s showcase.
Which pitching prospects are expected to play?
Morfe, an 18-year-old out of Venezuela who hasn¡¯t pitched above Single-A Delmarva, has a 70-grade fastball that can hit triple digits and ranks as the best in the O¡¯s Minor League system.
Why are certain top prospects not listed on the roster?
Prospects who are still in big league camp and battling for a roster spot don¡¯t typically participate in Spring Breakout, nor those with injuries or injury concerns. Corner infielder Coby Mayo (the O¡¯s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 14 overall) fits in the former category.
What is the full roster?
CATCHERS
Samuel Basallo, C/1B, No. 1 (MLB No. 13)
Creed Willems, C/1B, No. 12
Ethan Anderson, C/1B, No. 18
Miguel Rodriguez, C, NR