Tate works perfect frame in return to game action

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It had been more than eight months since Dillon Tate had pitched in a game. It had been even longer since the 29-year-old right-hander had pitched while wearing an Orioles uniform, having not done so since Oct. 5, 2022.

Yet, Tate didn’t overthink the magnitude of the moment when he stepped onto the rubber at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. His objective was simple.

“Just go up [and] fill up the zone,” Tate said.

That’s precisely what the righty did. Tate worked a 1-2-3 third inning in Baltimore’s 5-2 win against a Detroit split squad, retiring Wenceel Pérez (the Tigers’ No. 20 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Ryan Kreidler and Parker Meadows (Detroit’s No. 10 prospect) in order.

Pérez flied out to deep left field, then Kreidler went down looking at a called third strike delivered by Tate. The brief inning ended with Meadows grounding out on a tapper back to the mound.

“That’s the best I’ve seen [Tate] look so far; it’s been a while,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Great sinkers. He threw some nice sliders also, but the sinker was going straight down and was low-to-mid 90s. It looks like the 'D-Tate' from a couple of years ago.”

The Orioles are hoping Tate can return to his form from 2022, when he set career bests in ERA (3.05) and appearances (67) while recording a 0.99 WHIP. He never pitched in the big leagues in ‘23 due to elbow/forearm issues, although he made 13 Minor League rehab appearances over two assignments spanning April through June.

Tate recovered by the offseason, and he came into camp fully healthy. On Tuesday, he made another encouraging step forward, as he looks to prove that he should be included in Baltimore’s eight-man bullpen for Opening Day on March 28 vs. the Angels at Camden Yards.

“It was just good to be out with my teammates,” Tate said. “It’s been a while since I competed at this level, so it felt good.”

G-Rod debuts new two-seam fastball in game action

Grayson Rodriguez made his first start of the spring Tuesday, working two solid innings. He allowed only one run, which came on an opposite-field solo homer by Detroit’s Zach McKinstry with two outs in the first.

Rodriguez recorded a pair of strikeouts in the opening frame. In the second, he worked around a one-out walk by getting Keston Hiura to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play on the right-hander’s 38th and final pitch.

It was the first time the 24-year-old had used his new two-seam fastball in a game. Rodriguez added the pitch to his repertoire during the offseason, and is eager to utilize it throughout 2024.

“It’s something new to try, and I think we’re going to keep doing it this year,” Rodriguez said. “Another pitch to throw to right-handed batters, mix it in to some lefties. Obviously, a heavy four-seam guy, being able to show them something that has some run to it.”

More Tuesday highlights

• Jackson Holliday (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect) recorded his first hit of the spring. The 20-year-old snapped an 0-for-6 skid with a fifth-inning single off Tigers right-hander Devin Sweet. Holliday came around to score on James McCann’s go-ahead two-run double.

• Coby Mayo (the No. 30 overall prospect in baseball) continued his torrid start to Grapefruit League play. The 22-year-old third baseman went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and a walk. Through four games, Mayo is 4-for-6 and has reached base in eight of his 10 plate appearances.

• There was nearly a cycle watch in Sarasota. Daniel Johnson, a non-roster outfielder in Orioles camp, went 3-for-3 with a single, a double and a triple before he was pulled in the seventh. The 28-year-old, who signed a Minor League deal on Jan. 23, was a former top prospect in the Washington and Cleveland organizations. He is 4-for-9 in four Grapefruit games.

“He’s swung the bat really well, especially today,” Hyde said of Johnson. “Three great swings. We faced some pretty good arms. He’s been a joy to have in camp. He plays hard.”