Franco eyes Opening Day; Means deals

Newly signed third baseman Maikel Franco arrived in Orioles camp Wednesday, taking live batting practice on the backfields a day after his one-year, $800,000 incentive-laden contract became official. Now the question is: Will he be ready for Opening Day?

“I don’t think it’s going to take that long,” Franco said before the O’s 5-2 win over the Braves on Wednesday. “In the offseason, I never stopped working out. I did my stuff, did my work. I took ground balls, did my gym work, did my swing. Every day, I was taking BP and getting my work in and doing everything I can to do better this year.”

The hope being, for Franco, that preparation helps him get up to game speed in the two weeks between Wednesday and Opening Day, after waiting through a longer-than-anticipated winter. Despite hitting .278 with eight homers and a 109 OPS+ in all 60 games for the Royals last season, the seven-year veteran didn’t see his market develop until mid-March, ultimately choosing the Orioles over the Mets and Braves for the chance to play everyday.

The contract does allow the Orioles to send Franco to their alternate training site for a limited time if he is not ready for Opening Day. But even if that happens, Franco is expected to soon be getting regular at-bats at third, DH and possibly first base.

“They gave me an opportunity to play, to show my talent,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s what I’m looking for. To come in and try to play most of the games that I can, and I know this team can give me an opportunity to do that.”

The Orioles also came with an added perk: the chance to reunite with former teammate Freddy Galvis, whom Franco shared the left side of the infield with from 2014-17 in Philadelphia. Galvis was one of the better defensive shortstops in baseball during that stretch, while Franco complemented his bat-first profile with an above-average arm. Both expressed excitement about playing next to one another again.

“I’ve followed Freddy for a long time. I know he’s a really, really good shortstop,” Franco said. "I’m just trying to continue to work with him, get better with him, and it’s going to be great.”

Said Galvis: “We are really good friends. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old. The Orioles are getting a really good player.”

From the game
Highlighting the Orioles' win over the Braves under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium was presumptive Opening Day starter John Means, who retired his first 10 hitters en route to completing four innings in his fourth spring start. Means struck out four without a walk, allowing little more than an Ozzie Albies solo homer. He’s lined up for two more starts in Grapefruit League play.

“My body is recovering well, my arm feels good and everything is working for the most part,” Means said. “I still probably need to throw a few more breaking balls, but besides that, I feel really good.”

From the trainer’s room
• Manager Brandon Hyde provided a non-update on Félix Hernández, one day after the right-hander exited his third spring start with right elbow discomfort. Hernández received treatment on the elbow Wednesday but is not scheduled to undergo an MRI at this time, Hyde said.

“It's just bothering him a little bit right now,” Hyde said. “It's just got discomfort. I don't know the timetable on him. Will be reevaluating him every day."

• Sidelined since March 5 due to a left hamstring strain, DJ Stewart progressed to live at-bats on the backfields Wednesday, hitting in a group with Franco and rehabbing infielder Richie Martin. Stewart could return to game action by this weekend, giving him roughly 10 days to resume battling for regular at-bats at designated hitter. Franco’s addition complicates Stewart’s path there and to the Opening Day roster, given he has one Minor League option.

Scheduling change
The Orioles announced on Wednesday updated home game times for the 2021 season. All home games in April, May, and September which were originally scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m. will now begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. Their home schedule features three 4:05 p.m. Saturday afternoon start times and eight mid-week day games. All Sunday home games will continue to start at 1:05 p.m.

Luck of the Irish
The Orioles were one of several teams to wear green Wednesday to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day; they donned green caps throughout their game with the Braves, doing so for the first time since 2017. The Phillies and Red Sox were the only teams to wear green uniforms.

Up next
The Orioles are off Thursday, then travel to Bradenton, Fla., on Friday to play the Pirates. Dean Kremer pitches for the O’s against Pittsburgh lefty Steven Brault. First pitch set for 6:05 p.m. ET from LECOM Park.