Spring Training is Back: A Look into the First Orioles Spring Training Game
FREDERICK, MD – Spring Training games officially began Friday afternoon with the Baltimore Orioles starting their spring season off against the New York Yankees. Winning by a score of 2-0 at Ed Smith Stadium at the Orioles Spring Training Complex in Sarasota, Florida, the Baltimore Orioles flashed promising pitching talent
FREDERICK, MD – Spring Training games officially began Friday afternoon with the Baltimore Orioles starting their spring season off against the New York Yankees. Winning by a score of 2-0 at Ed Smith Stadium at the Orioles Spring Training Complex in Sarasota, Florida, the Baltimore Orioles flashed promising pitching talent for the 2026 year.
Most of the contest featured a pitchers duel with both sides combining for two runs on 11 hits, but it was a two-run home run from newly signed first baseman Pete Alonso that gave the Orioles the lead in the bottom of the seventh as they began the spring season 1-0.
17 different position players saw the field on Friday including several top prospects like outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Reed Trimble. Both players played several games for formerly High-A Aberdeen a season ago as well as for Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk. Additionally, first baseman and catcher Creed Willems filled in for one plate appearance in replacement of Alonso after appearing in over 100 games for the Baysox in 2025.
On the mound, six different Orioles recorded an inning pitched with the win going to right-hander Jose Espada after throwing one scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Right-hander Trey Gibson recorded his first save of the calendar year following his three innings of shutout ball while posting three punchouts.
This save came despite him being mostly a starter for the IronBirds, Baysox, and Tides in 2025, where he started a combined 25 games and recorded a 4.26 ERA.
The next Orioles spring training game takes place Saturday afternoon when Baltimore hosts the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m.
Watch these and more future stars as the Frederick Keys make their return to affiliated baseball next season as the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The first home game will take place on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. against the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) at the newly renovated Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Single-game tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at Frederickkeys.com.