The second half of the season is the first true test of whether the process to get here, which started with the trade of Manny Machado, delivered a team that can compete at the highest level.
The Orioles selected 12 right-handed pitchers and five outfielders with their 22 picks as they looked to stock their system with athletic bats and live arms.
Mark Pallack happened to be on Eutaw Street when Ken Griffey Jr. launched the most famous hit in the history of the Home Run Derby. Thirty years later, he treasures the memory.
Yennier Cano called the trip he, Adley Rutschman, Austin Hays and Félix Bautista took to the All-Star game “probably one of the best plane rides of my life.” The four teammates marveled at how much has changed — for them, and for the Orioles.
Austin Hays burst onto the MLB scene shortly after being drafted. Then, his career stalled and the Orioles entered a long rebuild. They’ve both come through the other side, with Hays suddenly an All-Star and veteran leader on a winning team.
The Orioles’ star catcher became just the eighth player to hit 27 or more home runs in the opening round. He also became the third player in the group to not advance.
John Angelos appointed his own All-Star deadline for getting a deal done to keep the Orioles at Camden Yards. It would be a nice repayment of faith to make that happen sooner rather than later.
“I’ve been doing it for a long time with him,” Rutschman said. “That’s why I feel like it means so much, just because we’ve had so many BP sessions, so many fake Home Run Derby games — he’s always been the guy.”