SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are getting closer to breaking camp and remain hopeful that they won’t spend too much time without second baseman Jackson Holliday.

Holliday took live batting practice yesterday for the first time since his surgery to remove a broken right hamate bone, and he was scheduled to do it again this afternoon at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

“Felt great, so it’s check another box, get that out of the way,” said manager Craig Albernaz. “Now today he’s jumping into live BPs again, so he’s progressing great. He’s right where he needs to be and we’re excited.”

Holliday has set a goal of beginning his rehab assignment during Triple-A Norfolk’s opener on March 27.

“I think it’s realistic,” Albernaz said. “And again, we’re taking it day-by-day, but I think it’s realistically in the plans. But also, like we keep on talking about, we want to do right by Jackson, how he’s feeling. So just taking it a day at a time. But he’s answered the bell and checked every box in his progression, so I think that’s a realistic option.”

Gunnar Henderson is getting a work day and some rest after returning from the World Baseball Classic and going 1-for-3 yesterday against the Yankees in Tampa.

Henderson went 6-for-15 with a double and two home runs for Team USA.

“He was joking around about playing in front of like 30,000 people and then go into 2,000 the next day,” Albernaz said.

“You’re playing with the best of the best and against the best of the best, which is awesome for him. I think that competition and the environment that he was in, it just kind of like speeds up everything. But before he left, he was in a great spot with his buildup and stuff. So I think it’s definitely going to help.”

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa took some heat on social media for sitting Henderson, who started only three times and pinch-hit in the final against Team Venezuela – a 3-2 upset loss.

Asked whether he was disappointed, Henderson replied, “I mean, the competitor in me, yeah.”

“I wish I could have gotten in there a little bit more, but just wasn’t the way the cards came out,” Henderson said. “So hopefully just continue to push my case to get to play a little bit more.”

Henderson still came away feeling like the WBC was a great experience for him, especially being able to develop relationships with veterans on the team, and he’d gladly do it again if invited. And it should be beneficial this year to step into such an intense setting.

“Being able to figure out my plans and stuff and having to execute them in a high-leverage situation, it just gives me confidence going into the year that those plans work and I can have success with them,” Henderson said.

And being able to wear a jersey with “USA” printed across the his chest?

“Means everything,” he said.

“Super honored and blessed to be able to represent my country.”

Henderson probably will be in Saturday afternoon’s lineup that concludes the Grapefruit League portion of the spring schedule. The Orioles play the Nationals twice, in Baltimore and D.C., before the workout and Opening Day.

“Body feels great. I feel like I’m in a really good position,” Henderson said.

“I was just wanting to go see an AL East pitcher (Max Fried) that I’ll probably see a lot this year. And then today just give my body a break with all the travel and stuff. So it’s a pretty normal schedule from here on out.”

Right-hander Joe Ryan is starting for the Twins on Opening Day at Camden Yards. They made the official announcement earlier today.

Taylor Ward is the leadoff hitter again tonight against the Yankees in Tampa. Samuel Basallo is catching after his 3-for-3, two-homer game last night. Coby Mayo is the third baseman after homering yesterday off Fried.

Dylan Beavers is in center field.

For the Orioles
Taylor Ward LF
Samuel Basallo C
Pete Alonso 1B
Coby Mayo 3B
Dylan Beavers CF
Leody Taveras RF
Bryan Ramos DH
Luis Vázquez 2B
José Barrero SS

Zach Eflin RHP

For the Yankees
Trent Grisham CF
Aaron Judge DH
Cody Bellinger LF
Ben Rice 1B
Giancarlo Stanton RF
Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
Ryan McMahon SS
Oswaldo Cabrera 3B
J.C. Escarra C

Luis Gil RHP

Update: The Orioles announced that Beavers was scratched with right knee soreness.

No other information was available.

Beavers is 7-for-33 with four doubles, a triple, a home run, one walk and 10 strikeouts.

Taveras moved to center field and Douglas Hodo III is playing right.