masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Catcher J.P. Arencibia received a cortisone injection in his right forearm this morning and will be shut down for the next few days, further damaging his chances of breaking camp with the Orioles.
Arencibia has been diagnosed with a strained right flexor mass. His arm was wrapped in ice this morning while standing at his locker.
“Got a shot and wait a couple days and see how I feel,” he said. “They did some tests this morning and said what the smartest route could be…

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Catcher J.P. Arencibia received a cortisone injection in his right forearm this morning and will be shut down for the next few days, further damaging his chances of breaking camp with the Orioles.

Arencibia has been diagnosed with a strained right flexor mass. His arm was wrapped in ice this morning while standing at his locker.

“Got a shot and wait a couple days and see how I feel,” he said. “They did some tests this morning and said what the smartest route could be and try to get ready as soon as possible and back on the field.”

ArencibiaSidebar.jpgArencibia caught at Twin Lakes Park and hit a home run. He was scratched from Thursday’s game at the minor league complex and yesterday’s game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin because of lingering discomfort.

“Yesterday, I thought I was fine to play, so I went on the trip,” he said. “Batting practice is when it started bothering me. I could feel it kind of grabbing me, and for me, that’s what kind of set me off a little bit more. They said I strained that muscle. It’s nothing with the tendons or anything like that. I guess it’s just whatever muscle’s there is strained and we’ll reevaluate it in a couple days. I don’t know. I’ve never had anything in my arm, really.

“I actually went out and tried to throw and see if maybe it was just getting loose. Again, I’ve never felt anything like that. I was like, ‘This is not smart.’ I was scratched yesterday and saw the doctor this morning and that’s what he said. I’ve got a muscle strain. So I got a shot, try to push it out quick and go back to work.”

Arencibia was battling Ryan Lavarnway and Steve Clevenger for the backup job behind projected starter Caleb Joseph. Brian Ward also is drawing consideration despite being reassigned to minor league camp. However, Arencibia is 2-for-17 with seven strikeouts and four passed balls, and he’s unable to get back into the lineup.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, especially after going down for a few days and being able to play six innings two games and really feel good, hit a home run and line out and have good at-bats and feel like I’m making progress, but it is what it is,” said Arencibia, who signed with the Orioles as a minor league free agent on Jan. 7.

“Things happen for a reason. You can’t control that stuff, so I’ll make the best of it and whatever happens, wherever I go, I’ll do what I need to do. I’m confident in my abilities, put up numbers. I’ll do whatever I need to do and try to help the team win.”

To avoid further confusion, I’ll refer to the test on shortstop J.J. Hardy’s left shoulder as an MRI arthrogram, so fans don’t think he has a heart condition.

Update: The Orioles announced that Arencibia has been reassigned to minor league camp. With the move, there are now 36 players in camp, including four non-roster invitees.

For the Rays
John Jaso LF
Brandon Guyer RF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Evan Longoria 3B
Jones Loney 1B
Desmond Jennings CF
David DeJesus DH
Logan Forsythe 2B
Curt Casali C

Matt Andriese RHP