Orioles’ clubhouse within the clubhouse: Influx of Latino players creates its own culture

SARASOTA, Fla.

What once was a small corner of the Orioles clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium has become one of its fastest-growing, and most outgoing, groups of players.For years, the Orioles had some of the lowest representation of Latin American players in the major leagues.

Without any real pipeline established to sign and develop teenagers from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba, the team acquired most of its international players through trades, free agency and the Rule 5 draft.Baltimore broke camp for opening day last season with six Latin American-born players on its 40-man roster, a 15% rate that was half the league average, according to an MLB.com survey conducted in 2023.

Even with roster mainstay Anthony Santander departing in free agency this offseason, that number has doubled over the past year with the Orioles rostering a dozen Latino players in camp this spring in addition to another eight nonroster invitees.I think its amazing, said infielder Ramon Urias, who was born in Mexico, of the growing Latino presence in the Orioles clubhouse.

The Spanish guys have a good relationship.

Weve been together for a couple years now and now, last year, a couple new guys with Seranthony [Dominguez and Gregory] Soto came here and theyre becoming friends.

Theyre really cool, and we enjoy having them here.The Orioles revamped their presence in the region under vice president of international scouting and operations Koby Perez, who was hired in 2019.

Though they have yet to see the fruits of their investment in the clubs Dominican baseball academy, which opened in January 2024, at the MLB level, their Dominican top prospect Samuel Basallo is the first of what they hope will be a steady stream of Latin American talent making its way to Baltimore.Several of the Orioles veteran Latino players recalled how challenging it was for them to acclimate to previous MLB clubhouses, in which they didnt have many Spanish-speaking teammates and fewer resources were provided to help them bridge the language barrier with American players.

However, that sentiment hasnt made its way into their clubhouse this season as many of the Orioles Latino players have found a comfortable home with Baltimore.I would say its a joyful clubhouse, Dominican closer Felix Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones.

Its a lot of peace and harmony in here, and especially with a lot more Latin guys now.

We have a lot of fun together, and we love to mess around.

We love to play games.

As you guys already know, we play a lot of pool, chess.

Well play some different games as well, but its really cool.Orioles pitcher Cionel Perez, left, talks with manager Brandon Hyde after throwing live batting practice during spring training in Sarasota, Florida, on Thursday.

(Kenneth K.

Lam/Staff)More laughs come echoing out the row of lockers that house relievers Yennier Cano, Dominguez, Soto and Bautista than anywhere else in the clubhouse, though theres definitely a correlation between the rise in jokes and whenever Dominican infielder Jorge Mateo makes his way over to that side of the room.

They can also often be found huddled over a chess board, either playing the classic strategy game or Tablero, a Spanish version of checkers.While the ping pong table in the Orioles clubhouse is most often flanked by American players such as Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad, the pool table is dominated by their Latino teammates.

They once again have their own take on billiards, preferring a Dominican variation of billiards in which players compete to claim pockets they can hit the eight ball into.The thing is, with playing pool the American way, its a little too easy, because once you make your last ball, you can sink the eight ball in whichever pocket, Yennier Cano, whos from Cuba, said through Quinones.

But with the Dominican rules, its a bit more difficult.Related ArticlesBaltimore Orioles | Orioles observations on Heston Kjerstads big blast, Jorge Mateos rehab progressBaltimore Orioles | Reds OF Austin Hays, healthy after kidney infection, reflects on time with OriolesBaltimore Orioles | READER POLL: Orioles owner David Rubenstein is in favor of a salary cap.

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Braves on Monday because of rainBaltimore Orioles | Orioles to face Nationals in exhibition game in DC for first time since 2009They also hang out outside the facility as well.

Venezuelan native Albert Suarez, Bautista and Soto are all living in the same housing complex this spring and Dominican reliever Luis Gonzalez is staying close by.

Theyve all gotten together at the complexs pool for barbecues, and the larger group made a beach trip together early in camp.As the Orioles continue to invest in the Latino side of their roster, much of their success in 2025 will hinge on how well their Spanish-speaking players perform.Bautista, Cano, Dominguez, Soto and Cuban left-hander Cionel Perez make up the majority of their relief corps.

Suarez proved to be a valuable swing man between the rotation and bullpen last season.

Urias and Mateo figure to be key bench players as does Dominican catcher Gary Sanchez, who has already helped improve communication between their Spanish pitchers and coaching staff.Its a trend the Orioles Latino side of the clubhouse is thrilled to see Baltimore make a priority, giving the next generation of young Spanish players a better chance of reaching and sticking in the major leagues.I think its been huge and I think itll continue to be a huge help for those young guys, and I hope they continue to invest internationally and in the Dominican, Cano said through Quinones.

What we see is that a lot of those guys in the DR, they already start to learn how to speak English.

So, when they come over here its not as big of a language obstacle and they come over a lot more educated, so I think thats huge and hopefully theyll continue to do that.Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich and instagram.com/bymattweyrich..

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