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Andy Kostka

Andy

Andy Kostka is an Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Banner, focused on telling stories that revolve around — and away from — baseball. He previously covered the Orioles for The Baltimore Sun, and before that he worked for The Clarion Ledger in Mississippi. Kostka graduated from the University of Maryland and grew up in Rockville.

The latest from Andy Kostka

Orioles legend Adam Jones guest coaches from the photo well at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida, on Feb. 27.
Adam Jones says it’s ‘pretty humbling’ to join Orioles Hall of Fame
Jones was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in 2008 and became a five-time All-Star who ranks near the top in franchise leaders for hits (fourth), homers (fifth), runs batted in (fifth), runs (fifth), doubles (seventh) and games played (eighth).
Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez was being evaluated for triceps soreness Thursday, and the Orioles could know more Friday.
Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez dealing with triceps soreness a day after ‘sluggish’ start
“He just wasn’t feeling real up to himself,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “And today he showed a little bit of tricep soreness.”
The Orioles want Coby Mayo’s bat in their lineup. He is learning first base as a way to play more frequently.
Coby Mayo hopes learning first base helps him find a place in the Orioles’ lineup
The largest question surrounding Mayo has been where he can fit in. There’s little question the Orioles want to fit him in somewhere.
Grayson Rodriguez had a 13-4 record and a 3.86 ERA last season.
Grayson Rodriguez feels sluggish in 2nd spring start; Gunnar Henderson has muscle strain
Rodriguez threw 33 pitches in 1 1/3 innings before he was pulled and, after his second start of spring training, he said he felt sluggish and had trouble commanding the ball.
Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg had 18 home runs and a .792 batting average in 416 at-bats last season.
Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg is dealing with back soreness. The culprit: a soft mattress.
“It was something I was trying to be stubborn through, which was stupid of me, but I got a mattress topper and I feel much better," Westburg said.
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday sprints to home plate during a Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates last month.
In his quest to add speed, Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday had to relearn how to run
Since Holliday arrived in Sarasota for Orioles spring training, he has looked like a player poised to break out
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman connects with a pitch during a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers last month.
Who’s up? Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday and other Orioles players who stand out.
This week, many of the names are familiar, beginning with their franchise catcher and ending with a young starting pitcher who is doing his best to make sure the rotation isn’t as set as it seems to be.
The MASN logo is seen at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
After years of legal battles, Orioles and Nationals resolve MASN dispute
According to an announcement from Major League Baseball, the Nationals will be free to pursue their own television deal for the 2026 season and beyond.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Félix Bautista (74) throws a bullpen session at Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Félix Bautista returns to game action with high velocity and a smile: ‘I missed my fans’
“That was very exciting,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “I missed my fans. I missed hearing them every time I stepped onto the field. It was very gratifying being able to go out there today and hear them once again.”
Tony Clark, executive director of MLB Players Association, looks on prior to Game 1 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers in 2023.
Players union leader Tony Clark says MLB salary cap ‘is not necessary’
In February, Orioles owner David Rubenstein said his focus for MLB is to create a “competitive environment,” and that “if you look at other sports, the other sports which have that kind of arrangement seem to have players that are pretty happy with the situation.”
“It was definitely interesting to watch him on a day-to-day basis because he did things a little different than we were used to,” pitcher Dean Kremer, right, said of former ace Corbin Burnes, left.
The impact one year of Corbin Burnes had on the Orioles
The young members of the Orioles all noticed and implemented various facets of what they learned from their one year with Burnes.
Cade Povich’s spring training ERA remains at 0.00 after a three-inning performance against the Pirates.
With a strikeout-laden start, Cade Povich further pushes for a place on the Orioles
Povich struck out six in three scoreless innings against the Pirates.
Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez warms up ahead of a bullpen session during spring training.
Is the starting rotation for the Orioles set? Knock on wood, but it looks that way.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton
Why 41-year-old Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton came back for his 18th season
Morton has been everything from a journeyman struggling to keep his position to a Game 1 starter in the World Series.
The Delmarva Shorebirds will become the Delmarva Wild Ponies for one game this year.
Call them the Wild Ponies: Delmarva minor league team introduces alternate identity for one game
The logo depicts a Saltwater Cowboy escorting a wild pony to shore in a nod to a yearly tradition on the Eastern Shore.
Journalists with several Japanese news outlets document newly signed Baltimore Orioles pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, right, as he warms up with the team during spring training.
With Tomoyuki Sugano, the Orioles now have an audience in Japan
There’s interest in Baltimore to see how the 35-year-old will transition to Major League Baseball. But there could be even more eyes coming from abroad, as Japanese baseball fans focus on the Orioles more than ever before.
In a post on X, Jimmy’s wrote that the restaurant “enjoyed our time” at Camden Yards and will continue to focus on serving customers at other locations, including M&T Bank Stadium.
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood will not return to Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season
Jimmy’s was a popular choice for Orioles fans on game day, with long lines stretching in the concourse near Section 72.
Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg approaches home plate for his at-bat in live batting practice during spring training Tuesday.
Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg learned playing third base can be ‘ugly.’ And ugly works.
Westburg says he has two goals in baseball: winning a World Series and winning a Gold Glove.
Albert Suárez emerged from years abroad playing in Japan, Korea and Venezuela to become one of Baltimore’s most valuable pitchers in 2024.
Armed with a new pitch, Albert Suárez is ready to build off his major league comeback
Suárez enters spring training this year as a favorite to make the opening day roster. He’ll most likely feature in a bullpen role, but Suárez said “being available” for anything is the most important thing he can bring to the Orioles.
Orioles right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano debriefs his first bullpen of spring training with pitching coach Drew French, catcher Gary Sánchez and interpreter Yuto Sakurai on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Florida.
Tomoyuki Sugano’s first Orioles bullpen session draws eyes and nods of approval: ‘Perfecto’
Sugano, the 35-year-old right-hander making a jump to Major League Baseball as one of Japan’s most accomplished pitchers, showed off his elite command during his 35-pitch bullpen session.
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