![\"Orioles:](\"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TBS-l-VOLUNTEER-ORIOLES-012326-p9.jpg?w=1600&resize=1600,900\")
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With exactly 60 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day<\/strong>, the countdown to baseball season has officially begun in Baltimore. Pitchers and catchers\u2014especially those participating in the World Baseball Classic<\/strong>\u2014are set to report to Sarasota<\/strong> in just 15 days<\/strong>, marking the unofficial start of the 2026 MLB season<\/strong> for the Baltimore Orioles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Under normal circumstances, spring training milestones don\u2019t always spark much excitement. But with much of the region locked in snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures<\/strong>, the thought of baseball returning offers a welcome sense of warmth\u2014at least mentally. For fans trudging through winter weather, the idea of sun-soaked afternoons and crack-of-the-bat moments feels closer than ever.<\/p>\n As always, the hope is that everyone impacted by the recent storms remains safe and avoids serious inconvenience. Baseball will return soon enough.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the same winter weather dampening spirits also disrupted plans across Birdland<\/strong>. The Orioles opted to cancel the entire Saturday slate of Birdland Caravan events<\/strong>, a move that some fans felt was overly cautious.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s understandable that player travel concerns factored into the decision\u2014especially with worsening weather conditions\u2014there was a sense that at least part of the planned activities could have gone forward. For fans eager to interact with players outside of game settings, the cancellation was a disappointment, and that frustration is entirely fair.<\/p>\n Birdland Caravan events provide rare opportunities for supporters to see Orioles players in relaxed, fan-friendly environments. Missing those moments stings, even if safety and logistics ultimately dictated the outcome.<\/p>\n In the absence of new Caravan content, attention shifted to comments made during Friday\u2019s events<\/strong>, most notably from Pete Alonso<\/strong>, who spoke cryptically about establishing a \u201cNew Oriole Way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Alonso offered little in the way of specifics, instead leaving fans and media to read between the lines. When pressed, the slugger essentially responded with a variation of: You\u2019ll find out.<\/em><\/p>\n That ambiguity has fueled speculation throughout the fanbase. Is the \u201cNew Oriole Way\u201d about accountability? A more aggressive competitive mindset? A shift in clubhouse culture? Or simply a rebranding of long-standing organizational values with a modern edge?<\/p>\n While Alonso didn\u2019t elaborate, his confidence alone suggests a team that believes it is entering a new phase\u2014one defined not by rebuilding or potential, but by expectations and results<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Another significant takeaway from Friday\u2019s events came from Gunnar Henderson<\/strong>, who confirmed he is fully healthy after dealing with a shoulder impingement<\/strong> last season.<\/p>\n Henderson explained that the injury occurred early in the year while diving for a ball, resulting in inflammation that lingered longer than initially realized. The issue reportedly forced him into a sub-optimal swing plane<\/strong>, limiting his ability to consistently drive the baseball.<\/p>\n That context helps explain why Henderson finished the season with 17 home runs<\/strong>, a total that fell short of expectations given his raw power and previous trajectory.<\/p>\n Now fully recovered, Henderson believes he is positioned for a significant rebound in 2026. On paper, the explanation is plausible\u2014and encouraging.<\/p>\n Of course, Orioles fans have been here before. Optimism surrounding Adley Rutschman\u2019s<\/strong> potential resurgence last offseason ultimately failed to materialize. Still, Henderson has provided far more detail about his injury and recovery than Rutschman ever did, making belief in a bounce-back feel more justified\u2014if still cautious.<\/p>\n Hope for the future isn\u2019t limited to the major league roster. On Friday night, MLB Pipeline released its updated Top 100 Prospects list for 2026<\/strong>, and the Orioles were well represented.<\/p>\n Three Baltimore prospects cracked the list:<\/p>\n Samuel Basallo<\/strong> \u2013 No. 8 overall<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Dylan Beavers<\/strong> \u2013 No. 69<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Nate George<\/strong> \u2013 No. 93<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Basallo\u2019s ranking inside the top 10 reinforces his status as one of baseball\u2019s premier young talents. Beavers continues to hold steady as a well-rounded outfield prospect, while George\u2019s inclusion reflects his breakout performance last season.<\/p>\n All three were also featured on Baseball America\u2019s Top 100 Prospects list<\/strong>, which further validates their standing across the industry. Baseball America additionally ranked Trey Gibson<\/strong> and Luis De Le\u00f3n<\/strong>, two pitching prospects who narrowly missed MLB Pipeline\u2019s cut.<\/p>\n Beyond prestige, these rankings carry tangible implications. As noted by the Baltimore Sun<\/strong>, Basallo and Beavers are now officially eligible for Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI)<\/strong> draft pick compensation, provided they meet service-time and award thresholds.<\/p>\n That means success at the major league level could translate directly into extra draft capital<\/strong> for the Orioles\u2014another example of how player development and organizational strategy intersect in today\u2019s MLB.<\/p>\n The Birdland Caravan also gave players their first extended face-to-face interactions with new manager Craig Albernaz<\/strong>, and the tone coming out of those meetings was notably upbeat.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good about this club,\u201d Albernaz said when asked about the 2026 Orioles.<\/p>\n While such statements don\u2019t guarantee results, they do matter. Albernaz wasn\u2019t obligated to take this job. If he sensed dysfunction or misalignment within the organization, he could have passed and waited for other opportunities. Instead, he chose Baltimore\u2014and his confidence suggests internal belief that the team is ready to win.<\/p>\n Pete Alonso says there\u2019s a \u2018New Oriole Way\u2019<\/strong> (The Baltimore Banner) Orioles players getting to know new skipper\u2014and they know it\u2019s time to win<\/strong> (Steve On Baseball) Albernaz on 2026 Orioles: \u2018I feel good about this club\u2019<\/strong> (Baltimore Baseball) Why Basallo and Beavers\u2019 Top 100 rankings matter<\/strong> (Baltimore Sun) No major Orioles milestones are recorded for January 25. It\u2019s unlikely snowbound executive Mike Elias<\/strong> will change that in 2026.<\/p>\n Former Orioles born on this date include:<\/p>\n Richie Lewis<\/strong> (1998, pitcher)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Francisco Mel\u00e9ndez<\/strong> (1989, infielder)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Wally Bunker<\/strong> (1963\u201368, pitcher), who turns 81<\/strong> today<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Happy birthday to Wally Bunker\u2014and to anyone else celebrating today.<\/p>\n Notable birthday twins include Virginia Woolf<\/strong>, Alicia Keys<\/strong>, Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong>, and Ariana DeBose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n From the Battle of the Zab<\/strong> in 750 to the end of the Battle of the Bulge<\/strong> in 1945, January 25 has seen pivotal moments across centuries. It\u2019s also the date of one of history\u2019s darkest courtroom verdicts, as Charles Manson<\/strong> and his followers were convicted in 1971.<\/p>\n Who led the Baltimore Orioles<\/strong> in home runs during the 1970 season<\/strong>?<\/p>\n Think you know?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou\u2019ll Find Out\u201d: Pete Alonso Teases the \u2018New Oriole Way\u2019 as Baltimore Looks Toward Opening Day 2026 With exactly 60 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day, the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":145145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nWeather Forces Orioles to Cancel Birdland Caravan Events<\/h2>\n
\nPete Alonso Hints at a \u2018New Oriole Way\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.thebanner.com\/resizer\/v2\/75WSBPYWMNEXPOCBI33PECS7WA.jpg?auth=8d1bbbac5014cc34ab396b36a9d07ed57c8d72e836680e8b96ca830945450b80&width=4241&height=2385&smart=true&quality=85\")
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\nGunnar Henderson Healthy and Eyeing a Bounce-Back Season<\/h2>\n
\nOrioles Prospects Shine on Top 100 Lists<\/h2>\n
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\nWhy These Rankings Matter More Than Bragging Rights<\/h2>\n
\nNew Manager, New Expectations<\/h2>\n
\nOrioles News You May Have Missed<\/h2>\n
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Andy Kostka explores Alonso\u2019s comments and what they could signal for the franchise.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Steve Melewski highlights the urgency and accountability emerging within the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Early confidence from the new manager adds to offseason optimism.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
A breakdown of Prospect Promotion Incentive implications.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nBirthdays and Orioles History<\/h2>\n
![\"Pete](\"https:\/\/img.mlbstatic.com\/mlb-images\/image\/upload\/t_2x1\/t_w1536\/v1769215305\/mlb\/qxjediuanmc57fpymws5.jpg\")
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\nOn This Day in History<\/h2>\n
\nRandom Orioles Trivia Question<\/h2>\n