BRADENTON, Fla. — The Cole Irvin who showed up to the ballpark for the Orioles on Sunday was not the same one who pitched for them last season.
This Cole Irvin was throwing his full arsenal of pitches with the velocity that last year’s version of the left-hander rarely reached — if ever. Making his 2024 spring training debut, Irvin retired all six batters he faced in Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He picked up three strikeouts, one of which ended on a 95.9 mph sinker to get Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds swinging. His previous career high was 95.3 mph.
“A lot of the hard work in the offseason is starting to pay off and that’s what I attribute it to,” Irvin said after his outing. “It was a longer offseason for me because I gave myself no breather of rest because I just wanted to get better. And so far, we’re starting to see the labors of the work and I’m just thankful for the grace of God.”
Irvin, 30, didn’t take much time off this winter, working with Tread Athletics to clean up his mechanics and build better habits with his diet and workout routines. The Oregon product posted a 4.42 ERA and 1.28 WHIP for the Orioles last season, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen.
He entered the offseason without a clear path to a rotation spot, but injuries to Kyle Bradish (UCL sprain) and John Means (elbow soreness) have created an opportunity for Irvin to crack the opening day starting rotation. With his newfound velocity, Irvin hopes to take advantage of his opportunity and make the case to stick in the rotation all year.
“It’s encouraging, especially when I don’t feel like I’m doing more to try to get out of it,” Irvin said. “Maybe when we got a full Camden Yards, maybe we see a couple higher numbers. But again, I’m not striving for that. I’m not shooting for that. I’m just trying to be a better version of myself than I was last year when I was pretty good in that second half.”
Irvin threw 28 pitches in the contest, not as many as originally planned just because he was so efficient against a Pirates team that rolled out a starting lineup mostly composed of their projected regulars. His new look yielded several off-balance swings, just as catcher James McCann said it has during live bullpen sessions in camp.
“We all came back asking if we’re saying the same thing they were saying and it kind of caught us off-guard, the velo, the way the ball is coming out of his hand,” McCann said. “When you see hitters pushing each other saying, ‘You seeing the same thing I am?’ That’s when you know that it’s gonna be a good challenge.”
Enrique Bradfield Jr. shows off the wheels
The Orioles scored the first run of Sunday’s contest on an error, but they earned it by way of Enrique Bradfield Jr.’s speed.
Baltimore’s 2023 first-round pick entered the game in the sixth and came up for his first at-bat an inning later with runners on first and second. He then sent a broken-bat chopper to shortstop Sergio Alcantara, who tried in vain to throw out the speedy Bradfield Jr. The throw sailed wide, allowing Coby Mayo to score. Bradfield Jr. then stole second base for good measure.
The Orioles drafted Bradfield Jr. out of Vanderbilt for his speed, a tool that, along with his fielding, earned a perfect 80 grade on the 20-80 scale from Baseball America. He reported to Orioles spring training this year to gain some familiarity with the organization before embarking on his first full professional season.
“It’s cool to be around all these guys to be able to watch them, observe, take away things from their games, have conversations with them,” Bradfield Jr. “This is what it’s all about. Sometimes being able to talk to these guys is more valuable than being out there yourself. So, being able to just be around and watch them has been great so far.”
Already 22 years old, Bradfield Jr. has the chance to move quickly through the Orioles’ farm system if he can reach base regularly. He finished the 2022 campaign at High-A Aberdeen and will likely return there once the minor league season gets underway. Should he put up an on-base percentage of anything resembling the .473 mark he posted in a limited 25-game sample across three levels last season, the majors won’t be far behind.
Corbin Burnes will be the starting pitcher of the first Orioles 2024 Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium as announced by manager Brandon Hyde in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday locks onto a pitch with intensity during batting practice in 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Albert Suarez warms up before throwing batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano sports a high top hair cut as he stretches before pitching in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, left, talks with current pitcher Cole Irvin during 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Second baseman Connor Norby practices during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Second baseman Connor Norby practices during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Third baseman Coby Mayo practices running the bases during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, from left, talks with catchers Adley Rutschman and James McCann after throwing Bullpen at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Veteran players Jorge Mateo, from left, Austin hays, Anthony Santander are taken to the club house in an electric cart driven by James McCann after they finished Spring Training live batting practice at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Manager Brandon Hyde, left, shares a laugh with pitcher Corbin Burnes during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, left, watches Jackson Holliday takes batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielders Austin Hays, from left, and Cedric Mullins prepare for live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher John Means stretches before workout in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Chayce McDermott throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday connects during live batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Jorge Mateo, center, and other players warm up on the first day of full squad workout during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Center fielder Cedric Mullins makes a running behind the back and over the shoulder catch of a fly ball in batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitchers Cole Irvin, center, John Means, right, and others runs sprints to warm up during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Gunnar Henderson, center, works out during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Yennier Cano checks out his new WIlson mitts at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. Each player on contract with the sport equipment company gets two new gloves a year. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, right, and manager Brandon Hyde watch pitchers throw bullpen sessions during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Kaleb Ort throws bullpen during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Top prospect Jackson Holliday smoothes his hair as he waits for live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, watches batting practice during team’s 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Catcher Adley Rutschman, right, watches the flight of the ball he hit during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Cole Irvin throws live batting practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday smiles during batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Outfielder Kyle Stowers throws during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher John Means tosses the ball during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitchers Matt Krook, left, and Dean Kremer warm up stretching during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, left, follows the flight of Jackson Holliday’s fly ball during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles pitchers Corbin Burnes, left, and Dean Kremer take part in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, from left, talks with catchers Adley Rutschman and James McCann after throwing Bullpen at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Manager Brandon Hyde talks with reporters before Orioles 2024 Spring Training full squad workout at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday takes fielding practice during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Center fielder Cedric Mullins connects for a home run during live batting practice at Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Catcher Adley Rutschman backhands to stop a pitch in the dirt during live batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Cedric Mullins works out in center field during Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Jorge Mateo makes a running catch of a fly ball in right field during batting practice in Orioles 2024 Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
• Behind the efforts of Irvin, Keegan Akin and Bryan Baker, the Orioles were perfect through four innings before Tucker Davidson allowed a walk and a single in the fifth. He worked around the pair of base runners to keep the shutout intact, and the rest of Baltimore’s pitchers finished the job.
• The hardest thrower of the day proved to be Wandisson Charles, the Orioles’ 27-year-old right-hander who returned to the club on a minor league deal this offseason after reaching Triple-A Norfolk in 2023. Charles averaged 98.3 mph on his fastball and topped out at 98.7. He threw 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes, working around a walk and a single to keep the Pirates off the board.
• Reliever Craig Kimbrel left his live bullpen session five pitches early Saturday with quad tightness. Neither he nor manager Brandon Hyde expressed concern over the injury; Kimbrel has experienced similar minor ailments in previous spring trainings and opted to be extra cautious with opening day still more than a month away.
• After experiencing some visa issues entering the U.S., left-hander and nonroster invitee Ronald Guzmán reported to Orioles camp on Sunday. The 6-foot-2 Dominican is a converted first baseman-outfielder who has just two-thirds of an inning to his professional pitching resume. His development into a viable weapon for the Orioles’ bullpen will likely be a season-long project for the coaching staff.
