Dosch leads returning Tides into 2018 campaign

The Tides enter the 2018 season after touting a 66-76 record in 2017, including 32-38 against the International League South division, which earned them 3^rd place in the International League South division. Within the South division, the Tides will face heavy competition, as Gwinnett, Durham, and Charlotte are affiliates of three of the top-5 farm systems according to MLB.com.

Manager Ron Johnson returns for his seventh season at the helm for the Tides. His 422 managerial victories with the Tides are the most in franchise history and he's accumulated 1,683 wins over a 24-year managing career. Pitching Coach Mike Griffin and Field Coach José Hernandez return alongside Johnson this year, as Hitting Coach Butch Davis enters his first season with the Tides. Davis previously served as Hitting Coach for the Double-A Bowie Baysox and is in his 22nd season with the Orioles organization. With Johnson leading the team, the Tides are set to see both new and familiar faces take the field in 2018.
On the bump, the Tides expect to see plenty of veteran experience with starting pitchers Jayson Aquino and Tim Melville recording some Major League time in 2017. Tanner Scott is also in the mix for the starting rotation after an All-Star season with Double-A Bowie in 2017. Scott enters the year as the 6^th-ranked prospect in the Baltimore system according to MLB.com, and is rated by Baseball America as having the Best Fastball in the Orioles system.
Pitchers David Hess and Yefry Ramírez enter the starting rotation conversation after playing for Bowie last season. Hess spent the past three seasons in Bowie and his 11 wins in 2017 was T-1^st in the Orioles system. Ramirez was a late season acquisition as he spent the first half of 2017 and part of the second half in the Yankees system with Double-A Trenton. He donned a 10-3 record at the time of his trade and went 5-0 in six starts with Bowie to close out the year. Ramirez led the Eastern League in wins (15) and tied for first in complete games (3).
The Tides bullpen also expects to carry some veteran experience. Jimmy Yacabonis and Donnie Hart could see time with the Tides after spending some time with Baltimore in 2017. Hart posted a 2-0 record with a 3.71 ERA in 51 relief appearances for Baltimore last season, while Yacabonis struck out eight in 14 big league appearances. Matt Wotherspoon could also hear his name being called from the bullpen this season. He ended the 2017 season in Norfolk after being traded from the Yankees on 7/2/17.
New additions Josh Edgin, Joely Rodríguez, and Jhan Mariñez also bring in some veteran experience after signing with the Orioles in the offseason. Edgin brings four years of MLB experience to Norfolk after eight seasons in the Mets organization as a reliever, while Rodriguez appeared in 38 games for the Phillies between 2016 and 2017. Marinez has seen a fair share of major league as he's appeared with six different teams in the MLB.
Behind the plate, Andrew Susac enters his first season with the Orioles organization after being traded from Milwaukee. In 2014, Susac was a part of San Francisco's postseason roster, batting .250 (1-4) in four games as the Giants defeated Kansas City to claim the franchise's eighth World Series title. Austin Wynns is expected to split time with Susac throughout 2018 after receiving a Major League invite to Spring Training. This would be Wynns' second stint with Norfolk. He last played with the Tides in 2016, appearing in just eight games, hitting .278 (5-18) with a home run in that stretch.
Much like the Tides bullpen, the infield may see veteran experience at a variety of positions. Garabez Rosa is expected to make the jump up from Double-A Bowie and play first base in his 12^th season in the Orioles system. En route to winning Eastern League Most Valuable Player in 2017, Rosa led the E.L. in average (.310), hits (162), and RBI (91). Third baseman Drew Dosch is expected to cover the other corner of the infield for Norfolk. Dosch saw action in 120 games with the Tides last season, leading the International League with 36 doubles. Rubén Tejada is expected to see another turn with the Tides. Tejada was acquired by the Orioles last season, which began his tenure with Norfolk. Tejada touts plenty of Major League experience, seeing playing time with New York-NL, St. Louis, and San Francisco from 2010 to 2016. New additions Luis Sardiñas and Engelb Vielma are also candidates that could see time in the infield with the Tides. Sardinas brings major league experience along with him, appearing with four teams since 2014, while this will be Vielma's first year with a new team as he's spent the past eight seasons in the Minnesota farm system.
There may not be angels in the outfield at Harbor Park, but there could be plenty of highly-anticipated prospects. Baltimore's first-round selection from 2015, DJ Stewart, can be expected to roam the outfield for the first time with Norfolk. Along with Stewart, Cedric Mullins is in the mix to bring his speed and dynamic play to the Tides outfield. While entering 2018 as the 7^th-ranked prospect in Baltimore's system according to MLB.com, Mullins was on the fringe of some potential playing time in Baltimore after a strong Spring Training. The top prospect in the Orioles system may also see his first action in Norfolk after a very strong 2017 season. Austin Hays enters 2018 as the top-ranked prospect in the Orioles system and the 23^rd-prospect in all of Minor League Baseball. He was in consideration for a spot in the Major League outfield before an injury sidelined him for a large portion of Spring Training.
Newly acquired Jaycob Brugman is expected to begin the season with Norfolk after coming over in a trade with Oakland. This would be Brugman's first taste of the International League after seeing time in the Pacific Coast League the past two seasons. Newly signed Alex Presley could see more action in the International League after spending time with the Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians earlier in his career. Presley has spent majority of his career shuttling between the minors and majors with five different organizations. With plenty of new faces coming around, Tides fans can expect to see a familiar in former Rule 5 Draft pick and Baltimore fan favorite Joey Rickard. Rickard finished the 2017 season with Norfolk and is expected to make his second stint with the Tides while vying for playing time with the Orioles.
Norfolk opens its 2018 campaign on Friday, April 6^th with a 7:05 contest against the Gwinnett Stripers. This will be the third straight year the Tides will open play at Harbor Park against Gwinnett.