The Norfolk Tides will be the sole affiliate in action for the upcoming week.
For Orioles enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the performances of the team’s prospects at the highest minor league level, the season opener couldn’t have started more auspiciously. One of the reasons cited by Mike Elias for Jackson Holliday’s initial placement in the minors was the necessity for him to gain more exposure to left-handed pitching. As fate would have it, Durham’s Opening Day pitcher happened to be the lefty Mason Montgomery, rated as the #9 prospect in the Rays’ system. While not yet a major league-caliber pitcher, Montgomery boasts solid credentials.
Holliday rose to the occasion magnificently. Leading off the game for Norfolk, he smashed a home run in his very first at-bat of the minor league season, setting a positive tone that the Tides maintained throughout the game.
Despite Montgomery’s prospect status, he struggled on Friday night. Norfolk’s potent lineup, featuring Holliday, Connor Norby, Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo, and Kyle Stowers, capitalized on Montgomery’s difficulties. The Tides exploded offensively in the second inning, scoring seven runs and forcing Montgomery out of the game after just 1.2 innings pitched.
While the Tides enjoyed a comfortable lead, their own Opening Day starter, Chayce McDermott, encountered challenges with control. Despite limiting the Bulls to one run and one hit, McDermott struggled with walks, a recurring issue from the previous season. He exited the game after 4.1 innings, having thrown 85 pitches.
Reliever Tucker Davidson, who had been on the Orioles’ 40-man roster in the offseason, fared no better than Durham’s Montgomery. Under Davidson’s watch, the Bulls mounted a seven-run inning in the sixth, partially aided by defensive miscues from the Tides. Norfolk’s fielding errors contributed to four unearned runs.
Nevertheless, the Tides responded resiliently, regaining momentum with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Strong bullpen performances from Luis González, Wandisson Charles, and Bryan Baker secured the victory. Offensively, Holliday shone with three hits and four RBIs, while Norby contributed four hits to the winning effort.
While the hitting display was commendable, the Tides acknowledge the need for improvement in defense moving forward.
