Cole Irvin had an up-and-down 2023 season. Expected to be a part of the rotation last year, the lefty struggled in his time to start the season.
Sent down, refocused and determined, Irvin came back and became a viable option out of the bullpen towards the latter part of the season.
The 2024 season was shaping up to be a bullpen season for Irvin until Kyle Bradish and John Means were announced to start the season on the injured list. Suddenly, Irvin finds himself in a position to lock down one of two rotation spots to start the year.
Irvin was named the starter for today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he did not disappoint in his first outing of the spring.
Throwing 28 pitches across two innings of work, Irvin located 20 of those pitches for strikes. He struck out three while allowing no hits or walks and has his fastball touching 96 mph, a definite increase in velocity.
Keegan Akin, who is returning from a back injury, followed Irvin and used four pitches to navigate his only inning of work. He was followed by Bryan Baker, who had a clean inning, including a strikeout.
Tucker Davidson entered, and though he walked a batter and gave up a hit, he managed to navigate the inning without allowing a run.
Luis González (W, 1-0) pitched an inning, striking out one and allowing a hit. His effort led to him picking up his first win of the spring.
Wandisson Charles (H, 1) pitched an inning, allowing a hit and a walk but did not yield a run. Ryan Long (S, 1) followed and closed the game out, pitching the final two innings and picking up the save.
In the seventh inning, top prospect Coby Mayo led off with a walk and was moved to second on a single by Tyler Nevin. That’s when O’s first-round pick from last year Enrique Bradfield Jr. reached on an infield single, but the throw from Pittsburgh shortstop Sergio Alcantara was wide and allowed Mayo to come in and score the first run of the game.
Offensively, Heston Kjerstad, Jordan Westburg, Jorge Mateo, Nevin again and Maverick Handley with an RBI single, added hits, as the Orioles totaled seven total for the game. The Birds went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position (3-for-21, .143 avg in two games) with three stolen bases (Colton Cowser, Bradfield Jr. and Errol Robinson), six walks and 12 strikeouts.
Orioles pitching combined to allow just three hits while striking out eight and walking only two.
The Orioles will play split squad games tomorrow. The home game will feature Cade Povich taking the mound at Ed Smith Stadium, as the Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 p.m. EST.
The away game will feature Seth Johnson taking the mound as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. The Orioles will visit CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, where they will face the Atlanta Braves at 1:05 p.m. EST.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow and see how each game turns out, as the Orioles continue their spring training games. Make sure to vote in our poll on X to select your Baltimore Battery Player of the Game, presented by Scooters-4-Rent.
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