It’s been over 16 weeks since the Orioles were together for workouts in spring training. Back then, a group of players not scheduled for the March 12 game against the Minnesota Twins was hitting and playing catch at the Ed Smith Stadium complex as their traveling teammates returned.
They never played that game, and baseball has been shut down ever since due to the coronavirus pandemic. That changes Friday when workouts begin at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the three-week sprint to MLB’s new Opening Day, which could either be July 23 or July 24.
It will be a unique few weeks, with the scale of a season start-up like this unprecedented in recent times.