The Baltimore Orioles have begun trimming their roster as they prepare for Opening Day, now less than a month away.
Spring training follows a familiar routine—pitchers and catchers report, position players arrive, exhibition games begin, and eventually, teams start reducing their rosters.
On Sunday, the Orioles took their first step in that process, cutting their Major League camp roster down to 58 players, as reported by MLB.com. By Opening Day, they must finalize a 26-man roster.
Among the most notable moves were the reassignments of top prospects Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Dylan Beavers to minor league spring training. Also reassigned were pitcher Justin Armbruester, outfielder Jud Fabian, pitchers Jakob Hernandez, Yaramil Hiraldo, Robinson Martínez, Carlos Tavera, and Nathan Webb, as well as infielder Jeremiah Jackson. Additionally, pitcher Colin Selby was optioned.
It’s common for teams to send young prospects to minor league camp in early March, especially non-roster invitees like Bradfield and Beavers, who were long shots to make the Opening Day roster. This move allows them to get more playing time and development opportunities. However, reassignment doesn’t prevent them from appearing in Major League spring training games later in camp.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73518085/usa_today_21054635.0.jpg)
Bradfield, 23, was Baltimore’s first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt. Known for his elite speed, he advanced quickly through the minors, reaching Double-A last season. He finished the year with a .272/.358/.371 slash line, four home runs, and 35 RBI. His progress is particularly interesting as Cedric Mullins, the Orioles’ current center fielder, is set to become a free agent after this season.
Mullins, an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2021, remains a key player, but Baltimore’s decision to let Anthony Santander walk in free agency suggests they may prioritize players under team control moving forward.
Beavers, selected 33rd overall in the 2022 MLB Draft out of California, has steadily progressed through the minors and ended last season at Triple-A Norfolk. He posted a .242/.342/.408 slash line with 15 home runs and 54 RBI. He is expected to start the season in Norfolk, but a strong early performance—similar to Heston Kjerstad’s rise last year—could put him in line for a Major League call-up.