In two weeks, the Orioles Caravan returns, and some of their most popular players, including catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, second baseman Jackson Holliday, infielder Jordan Westburg, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Colton Cowser, will be participating.
There are fans who still wish the Orioles had their FanFest, which was dropped after 2019, a one-day extravaganza at the Baltimore Convention Center.
This year’s version is the fourth Caravan, and the idea is to go to fans where they live. I’ve heard from fans in York, Pennsylvania and the Eastern Shore who are upset that the Caravan isn’t coming there, and I understand that.
The Orioles like the Caravan because it gives fans a chance to interact with players, and fans like getting up close with players.
During many of the FanFests, it was easy to find who the most popular Oriole was. It was Adam Jones, and he was the media’s go-to guy after many games.
When Jones left, Trey Mancini inherited the Face of the Franchise moniker, and once he was traded in August 2022, that title was up for grabs. Rutschman seemed the obvious one, but he isn’t eager to embrace the spotlight.
Henderson is the team’s best player and immensely popular. He also allows his personality to show, as he did before the Home Run Derby at last July’s All-Star Game with his Scooby-Doo impression. However, at 23, Henderson is the third-youngest player on the 40-man roster. Only Holliday and Coby Mayo are younger.
Cowser and Holliday are both outgoing, too, and could be that face while Westburg provides thoughtful answers to questions. At 21, with just limited big league experience, Holliday wouldn’t try to be the team leader. After a year or two of outstanding performance, he could be that guy.
There’s something about being the most well-known player. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re the clubhouse leader. In recent years, starting pitcher Kyle Gibson and Rutschman’s backup, James McCann, were players who took responsibility in the clubhouse.
Perhaps 41-year-old starter Charlie Morton because of his age and World Series experience becomes the player others turn to, or because that young core has another year of major league time, it’s one of them.
While the players gravitated to Gibson and McCann, it might be time for a younger player to lead. They’re the ones who have suffered through five difficult postseason losses over the past two seasons.
Jones was a great choice because he played nearly every game. From 2012-2014, he missed just three games, and while Nick Markakis was universally respected, Jones was eager to answer questions after tough losses.
Mancini never turned away an interview request and gave good answers to even poorly phrased questions. Missing the 2020 season because of colon cancer only heightened the respect others had for him.
Cedric Mullins, another popular Oriole and the team’s current player representative, is respected but he’s quiet and only a year away from free agency. He has the perspective of losing seasons, and winning ones, too.
John Means was another leader in his time with the Orioles, which might not be over. He was the player rep and a voice of reason but has missed much time with two Tommy John surgeries.
Maybe we’ll see who the fans think the face of the franchise is at Caravan events.
Notes: The Orioles traded catcher Blake Hunt to Seattle for cash considerations. He had been designated for assignment on Monday when the Orioles signed reliever Andrew Kitteridge. Hunt had been traded from the Mariners to Baltimore last May in the deal that sent reliever Mike Baumann to Seattle. … Oriole pitchers and catchers report to the Ed Smith Stadium Complex in Sarasota on February 12th. Their first workout is February 13th. Position players report on February 17th with the first full-squad workout on February 18th.
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