5 takeaways from O’s spring training in Sarasota

Written by:

Jason Benowitz

This spring, I got to spend two weeks in Sarasota, Florida, soaking in the sun and Orioles baseball.

I was around the team and the vibes as often as possible, and I left with five things that I felt were worth sharing heading into the regular season. I should preface everything I’m about to say.

I do not have a credential. I was not in the clubhouse. My five takeaways are strictly based on being in and around the stadium and dugouts as much as possible. Now let’s dig in.

The Professionalism

These guys are professional baseball players, so this is a ‘hot take,’ I know. However, this year felt very different.

Everyone was showing up to work. The battles to make the roster were fewer and further between than previous years. Guys showed up, put in their work and went home.

In my multiple years of spring training visits, it felt different in this way.

The Chip on the Shoulder

Another thing that felt very different was the hunger.

You could tell and feel that this team hated how last year ended. Didn’t we all?

As much as our guys are family off the field, the business on the field is strict and focused. This, too, was very different than years past. The short taste of postseason baseball gave the Baby Birds a deadly reason to be ready.

The Nest is Still Full

I had the privilege to attend the Orioles’ Spring Breakout game. The hype was certainly warranted.

Although the Pirates won, there was a dugout full of potential future All-Stars on the O’s side. It’s just as, if not more, important to mention that a lot of the Breakout team also contributed in weighty ways in O’s spring training games.

I look forward to the day when we look back at the Breakout roster and laugh at the absurd amount of MLB talent collected on it.

The Fans

I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me, but there were so many fans. So many fans.

Every game I went to, whether it was a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday night, was slammed. The team store made you feel like a sardine, in the best way. The concessions had lines. The 50/50 raffle always hit the thousands. I also had a much harder time grabbing tickets.

I say all this in the best way. The buzz around the special nature of this team has made its way south.

The Anticipation

Last fall, as the Orioles made the postseason and prepared to host the ALDS, I likened it to the shaking of a soda bottle.

The bottle of 2023 may have lost its fizz rather quickly, but between my interactions with players, staff, fans and on-lookers, the soda bottle of the 2024 Orioles has rigorously been shaken. Everyone is ready to release the cap on March 28.

Spring training is always a time for hope, anticipation and excitement. I can tell you from two straight weeks of being immersed in it, those feelings, those emotions, are heightened more for the 2024 Baltimore Orioles than they have been in a long time.

What was your favorite part of spring training this year? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!

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