Orioles news: Venezuela tops US in WBC final, Henderson relegated to backup duty

Good morning Birdland,

The World Baseball Classic is over, and Venezuela are your 2026 champions. They beat the United States by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday night in Miami. Orioles star Gunnar Henderson did not enter the game until the ninth inning, when he was used as a pinch hitter for Alex Bregman. Henderson popped out against Venezuela closer Daniel Palencia.

Team USA collected three total hits in the losing effort. The only two runs they scored came in the eighth inning, when Bryce Harper smacked a two-run homer, which tied the game.

Bregman, who USA manager Mark DeRosa continued to start ahead of Henderson throughout the tournament, went 0-for-3. He finished the competition with a .143 batting average and .578 OPS, among the worst marks on the team. Henderson hit .400 with a 1.267 OPS, both numbers were the best on the team. A real head scratcher.

But let’s not dwell on the losers here, and instead give a hearty congratulations to Venezuela. They beat the behemoth that is Japan in the quarterfinals, and then topped the tournament darlings Italy in the semis on their way to this matchup. And then within the game itself it always felt like they were outpacing the US. When the final out was recorded, the stadium erupted with cheers. Although the final was played in the United States, and there probably were more Americans in attendance, it sure sounded like the Venezuela supporters well outnumbered the hosts. Perhaps it was the byproduct of the joy that they brought with them to the game.

That’s a wrap on major international baseball until 2028, when it will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2020. The next World Baseball Classic is slated for 2030.

Back in Orioles camp, the O’s and Tigers played to a 1-1 tie in Lakeland. Bryan Ramos went 3-for-4 with a double and solo homer. Samuel Basallo doubled as part of his 1-for-4 game. On the pitching side of things, Chris Bassitt tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, striking out four in the process. Rico Garcia and José Espada both worked clean innings to maintain their spotless spring ERAs.

The Orioles will head to Dunedin to take on the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. today. That game will be shown on MASN.

Links

Bassitt uses bluntness to guide Orioles’ teammates | Baltimore Baseball

I’m a big fan of the Bassitt addition. Does he truly elevate the rotation? Eh, probably not. But he definitely secures their floor. The Orioles need arms they can depend on, and Bassitt (along with Kremer) is certainly that. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had as good of a spring as you could hope.

Basallo gets the best of Verlander, Bassitt pitches into sixth, Ramos comes within triple of cycle in 1-1 tie | Roch Kubatko

Roch gives you the rundown on Tuesday’s game, which doesn’t sound like it was the most exciting affair. That’s how it goes in the spring sometimes. I think we are all just ready for “real” games at this point. Only a few more days left!

Why a tennis racket is part of Orioles outfield coach Jason Bourgeois’ training methods | The Baltimore Banner

If Mookie Betts thinks a drill is helpful, then I’m good with it! The Orioles’ defense needs to jump up a level across the board this year. That includes the outfield, where it looks like Colton Cowser will be the everyday center fielder next to a slew of corner outfielders that might change day to day.

The goal for the O’s starting rotation in 2026: ‘Surprise people’ | MLB.com

There have been a few headlines recently that describe the Orioles rotation as “underrated.” Well, they certainly aren’t overrated. Most outlets view them as an average-ish group, which feels fair. They have two potential aces in Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers, but there are legitimate questions about both. Shane Baz is a variable that could really elevate the unit, but we need to see it first. Beyond that, it’s the trio of Bassitt, Kremer, and Zach Eflin. Those are three bonafide big leaguers, but they aren’t exactly game-changers. And health is a concern for every team.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

Chris Vallimont turns 29 today. His lone MLB appearance came with the Orioles on July 3, 2023.

Trey Mancini is 34 years old. The Notre Dame product became a fan favorite during his time in Baltimore from 2016 through 2022. That reverence was only strengthened when Mancini missed the 2020 season due to a battle with stage 3 colon cancer. He returned to the lineup in 2021 and regained his place as one of the most important players on the team. The O’s traded Mancini the following season, allowing him to win a World Series with the Houston Astros. He has not appeared in a major league game since 2023, but spent 2025 in the Diamondbacks minor league system, and is currently in camp with the Angels.

Craig Tatum is 43 today. The Orioles used him as a backup catcher from 2010-11.

Gerónimo Berroa turns 61. A journeyman outfielder for 11 seasons, he spent a portion of the 1997 campaign in Baltimore.

Randy Miller is 73 years old. He pitched in one game for the 1977 O’s.

The late Dick Littlefield (b. 1926, d. 1997) was born on this day. He came with the organization when it moved from St. Louis to Baltimore. The lefty had played two seasons with the Browns and then made three appearances in an Orioles uniform in 1954 before he was traded to the Pirates.

This day in O’s history

It has been a slow day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. Instead, here are a few happenings on this date from beyond Birdland:

1959 - The Hawaii Admission Act is signed into law, dissolving the Territory of Hawaii and establishing the State of Hawaii. It goes into effect on August 21.

1965 - Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to walk in space, leaving his spacecraft for 12 minutes to do so.

1968 - The United States Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency.

1990 - The largest art theft in US history takes place. A total of 12 paintings, worth $500 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

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