masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have placed left-hander Dontrelle Willis on the restricted list at Triple-A Norfolk. He had been on the minor league seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain, but was moved to the restricted list Friday.

When asked if Willis is healthy enough to pitch now, a club official said, “Yes,” but would not comment on exactly why Willis is on the restricted list. I’ll make an assumption here that everything is not smooth for some reason right now between Willis and the club…The Orioles have placed left-hander Dontrelle Willis on the restricted list at Triple-A Norfolk. He had been on the minor league seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain, but was moved to the restricted list Friday.

When asked if Willis is healthy enough to pitch now, a club official said, “Yes,” but would not comment on exactly why Willis is on the restricted list. I’ll make an assumption here that everything is not smooth for some reason right now between Willis and the club but don’t have anything else to report on this right now.

After being released by the Phillies during spring training, the Orioles signed Willis to a minor league deal with the intention of turning him into a lefty relief specialist.

He left an outing at Triple-A after nine pitches April 11 with the forearm strain and has not pitched for the Tides since. Willis is 0-2 with an ERA of 4.91 for Norfolk and has given up four hits and four runs (two earned) over 3 2/3 innings.

In other minor league notes, Nick Haughian, a pitcher drafted by the Orioles in round nine of 2008, has asked for and been granted his release by the Orioles.

The 25-year-old lefty was 0-0 with an ERA of 18.00 with Single-A Frederick and had given up six earned runs in three innings over four games so far this year.

Double-A Bowie’s Buck Britton went on the disabled list yesterday with a sore oblique muscle. He could return in about a week. The older brother of pitcher Zach Britton is batting .321 with four doubles, a homer and 4 RBIs over 13 games for the Baysox.