Unloading Day kicks off Orioles spring training

The team's athletic equipment arrived in Sarasota on Friday morning after a 1,000-mile journey.

  • By Ryan Butler
  • | 10:46 a.m. February 2, 2018
  • Sarasota
  • Sports
  • Share

Pitchers and catchers won’t report for another two weeks, but Orioles staffers were already in mid-season form Friday morning.

Members of the Orioles executive staff and grounds crews, as well as The Oriole Bird, helped unload a moving van packed with the team’s equipment for the upcoming spring training season. The annual Unloading Day, where the team gear is unpacked from a Von Paris Moving & Storage van, traditionally kicks of the team’s spring campaign.

“It’s a very exciting time and the truck signifies that,” said Vice President of Orioles-Sarasota David Rovine.

The van carried more than 24,000 baseballs, 900 bats, 750 caps and 600 uniform tops, traveling 1,000 miles from the team’s headquarters in Baltimore to its baseball operations center at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The team also brought weightlifting, video scouting and exercise equipment to help the team prepare for the start of the regular season, which begins March 29.

The first team activities of the spring begin on Feb. 13 when pitchers and catchers report in Sarasota. The O's first spring training game is Feb. 23 at Ed Smith Stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Unloading Day, when the Orioles unpack team athletic equipment at their Sarasota headquarters, christens the spring training season.
Unloading Day, when the Orioles unpack team athletic equipment at their Sarasota headquarters, christens the spring training season.
Head Groundskeeper Dan Thomas helps remove containers carrying the team's bats, ball and other gear from the moving van.
Head Groundskeeper Dan Thomas helps remove containers carrying the team's bats, ball and other gear from the moving van.
The Oriole Bird helps direct team staffers unloading equipment.
The Oriole Bird helps direct team staffers unloading equipment.
Along with weights and exercise equipment, the team shipped its video scouting system from Baltimore to Sarasota.
Along with weights and exercise equipment, the team shipped its video scouting system from Baltimore to Sarasota.
Trevor Markham, director of operations for Orioles-Sarasota, uses a forklift to carry team gear into Ed Smith Stadium.
Trevor Markham, director of operations for Orioles-Sarasota, uses a forklift to carry team gear into Ed Smith Stadium.
The Bird takes out a bike from the moving van.
The Bird takes out a bike from the moving van.
The Orioles brought down hundreds of uniforms already bearing the 2018 Grapefruit League insignia.
The Orioles brought down hundreds of uniforms already bearing the 2018 Grapefruit League insignia.
After a long morning unpacking, The Bird takes a break at the team's baseball operations center.
After a long morning unpacking, The Bird takes a break at the team's baseball operations center.

 

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