masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgInfielder Steve Lombardozzi lasted one day with the Orioles before returning to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles optioned Lombardozzi this afternoon to create a spot for catcher Nick Hundley on the 25-man roster. They also placed Chris Davis on paternity leave and activated reliever Preston Guilmet from the taxi squad.

Lombardozzi, 25, is batting .292 with two RBIs in 19 games with the Orioles. He’s hitting .294 in 17 games with Norfolk.

Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give Hundley a day to…Infielder Steve Lombardozzi lasted one day with the Orioles before returning to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles optioned Lombardozzi this afternoon to create a spot for catcher Nick Hundley on the 25-man roster. They also placed Chris Davis on paternity leave and activated reliever Preston Guilmet from the taxi squad.

Lombardozzi, 25, is batting .292 with two RBIs in 19 games with the Orioles. He’s hitting .294 in 17 games with Norfolk.

Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give Hundley a day to get acclimated after he took a red-eye flight to Baltimore. Hundley is one of three catchers currently on the roster.

“He’s a proven veteran catcher,” said executive vice president Dan Duquette. “He can hit the ball out of the ballpark and calls a good game and has some good leadership skills.

“I thought he had a really good year last year and put up some really good numbers in San Diego, which is traditionally a pitchers’ park. And in 2012 he had a good year, as well.

“I know San Diego has a couple of good young catchers that they like, and when I saw that, I knew that he might be available. And we’ve been looking around for catching depth since Matt (Wieters’) injury.”

The Orioles probably won’t carry three catchers beyond Tuesday, when Davis comes off the paternity list.

“We’ll see,” Duquette said. “Traditionally in the American League, two catchers is enough.”