SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he spoke to outfielder Hyun Soo Kim about accepting an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, and they met again today with executive vice president Dan Duquette.
The first meeting took place before Kim sat out three straight games, including tonight's 4-4 tie with the Braves.
Kim must give his consent before playing in the minors, per a stipulation in his two-year contract.
The Orioles are still learning about Kim despite the scouting reports and...
SARASOTA, Fla. - An Orioles official confirmed tonight that pitcher Hunter Harvey left his start at Twin Lakes Park with a groin injury.
Harvey was working his third inning when he apparently strained a muscle. The club will know more on Wednesday.
Harvey hasn't pitched since 2014 due to a strained right flexor mass. He also suffered a fractured right fibula last spring after being hit by a comebacker in Fort Myers.
MLB.com first reported Harvey's injury.
The Orioles made a minor league trade...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 4, Braves 4 (in 10 innings)
Recap: Needing a good start to improve his chances of making the club, Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run and seven hits over five innings - his longest stint of the spring. He walked none, struck out four and hit a batter. Manny Machado led off the bottom of the first inning with his fifth home run. Matt Wieters hit his first home run in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie. It also was his first RBI. Zach Phillips was charged with...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed tonight that Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim won't be part of the 25-man roster on opening day.
Kim is out of the lineup again tonight and hasn't played since Saturday. He's in the dugout as the Orioles lead the Braves 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
"Yes, it looks like he's not going to be on the 25-man roster to start the season," Duquette said, as members of the beat crew gathered outside the MASN booth where...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The camp roster is down to 40 players.
The Orioles optioned outfielder Dariel Alvarez to Triple-A Norfolk before tonight's game against the Braves, a move that had been anticipated with Mark Trumbo penciled into right field and Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard assured of breaking camp with the team.
Alvarez, an intriguing prospect with a plus arm, collected only eight hits in 44 at-bats this spring. He had one double, one triple, two RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts.
Alvarez...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The rain has picked up in intensity again at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and pretty much the entire state of Florida. The Braves are on a bus headed to Sarasota. I wonder how easily it can execute a U-turn.
No word on a cancellation, but I'll remind fans that they don't postpone games here or play doubleheaders. It would be washed off the schedule.
Miguel Gonzalez is supposed to start tonight. Manager Buck Showalter will let us know how the pitching plans are altered if we...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters said he wanted to catch in two Grapefruit League games before the Orioles break camp. He already had circled Thursday on the calendar. It made sense to also get into tonight's lineup against the Braves.
The weather may not cooperate, but Wieters is ready to get behind the plate in an exhibition game for the first time since playing one inning on March 12 and leaving with a sore right elbow.
Wieters caught an intrasquad game at Twin Lakes Park and has been batting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim is out of the Orioles lineup again for tonight's game against the Braves, which is in doubt due to heavy rain.
Kim also was held back from the last two games in Bradenton and Fort Myers. He was in the clubhouse this afternoon and spent a few minutes with his interpreter checking the lineup card after it was posted.
Ryan Flaherty is in left field tonight. Matt Wieters is catching and batting second.
Wieters remains confident that he will be ready opening day. An...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are an unsettled team with three games remaining in Florida.
We haven't figured out the rotation beyond Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez. We haven't figured out who's playing left field, since the club continues to check on available players. We don't know whether the Orioles are keeping Hyun Soo Kim, though I'll point out again that he wants to stay in the U.S. unless he had a sudden change of heart overnight.
We don't know who's filling two...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Tyler Wilson came off the field in the sixth inning today and hugged Mike Wright.
Competitors for a spot in the rotation, close friends to the end.
Wright allowed one run in five innings in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Red Sox, and Wilson followed with two scoreless frames.
A decision is pending and it won't be an easy one. Manager Buck Showalter said they're both starter candidates, though Wilson was shortened up today and could pitch again this spring.
"Wally (Dave...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3
Recap: Mike Wright allowed one run and four hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches before coming out. Chris Young hit a solo home run off Wright in the second. Tyler Wilson allowed two hits in two scoreless innings. Good friends, good outings. Xavier Avery led off the first inning with his second home run. Paul Janish had an RBI single later in the inning after the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs. Nolan...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Getting to JetBlue Park is a relatively easy task. Getting into the parking lot is much more complicated if you arrive an hour before first pitch.
David Ortiz, who has announced his retirement following the 2016 season, is playing his final game here today. The Orioles are braced for whatever delays are forthcoming, including an on-field ceremony that just started a few minutes ago.
Left-hander Brian Matusz sounded encouraged by his outing yesterday in an intrasquad game at...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed this morning that Kevin Gausman will begin the season on the disabled list after being shelved by tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Gausman, who went on the DL last May with the same condition, still could be available to start on April 10 against the Rays in Baltimore. His assignment will be backdated to March 25.
Otherwise, Showalter said Gausman could start April 13 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park "or later."
The DL move is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Make it three straight years for Chris Tillman as the opening day starter.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed this morning that Tillman will take the mound for the April 4 game against the Twins at Camden Yards.
Tillman entered camp as the favorite despite the Orioles signing veteran Yovani Gallardo last month to a restructured two-year deal with an option for 2018. And despite having his ERA climb from 3.34 in 2014 to 4.99 last season.
Last spring, Tillman became just...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is in right field and Pedro Alvarez is at first base for today's game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
The Orioles lineup also includes Garabez Rosa at second base and Julio Borbon in left field. Both players came over from minor league camp.
Tyler Wilson and Brad Brach will pitch in relief today.
Left-hander Brian Matusz said he feels good after throwing 18 pitches yesterday in an intrasquad game at Twin Lakes Park. He's scheduled to pitch again on...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making more cuts this morning, according to manager Buck Showalter. They're going to need a sharp knife with 42 players still in camp.
Seventeen players must be removed, and it's possible that the Orioles will pad their total by signing another outfielder or pitcher. This roster remains a work in progress.
Starter Kevin Gausman, reliever Brian Matusz and infielder Jimmy Paredes can be placed on the disabled list. Catchers Francisco Pena and Audry Perez can be...
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said outfielder Hyun Soo Kim isn't on the travel roster for Monday afternoon's game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Kim was on the list tonight, but he didn't play in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Pirates.
The intrigue continues to grow.
Infielder Ryan Flaherty isn't expected to play Monday after being scratched tonight with flu-like symptoms. Showalter joked that Flaherty stayed back because his fiancé is in town.
Ubaldo Jimenez got...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 5, Pirates 3
Recap: Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard led off the ninth with a single and scored the tie-breaking run from first base on Garabez Rosa's single off the scoreboard in left field. Rosa scored on Josh Hart's single. Ubaldo Jimenez, lined up to be the Orioles' No. 3 starter, retired only two batters and was charged with three runs and four hits. Pedro Alvarez and Nolan Reimold hit back-to-back home runs in the first. Alvarez was making his first...
BRADENTON, Fla. - Nothing that happened tonight in Bradenton is going to ease the concerns attached to the Orioles rotation.
Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only two-thirds of an inning and was removed after throwing 36 pitches, including 21 for strikes. He headed to the bullpen for more work, so the quick hook must not have been related to his health.
Perhaps manager Buck Showalter had seen enough from Jimenez, who allowed three runs and four hits and also walked a batter. Maybe 36 pitches in one inning...
BRADENTON, Fla. - The flu bug has bitten Ryan Flaherty.
It's really making the rounds in Orioles camp. Players, coaches, manager Buck Showalter. No one is immune.
Flaherty was a late scratch tonight with "flu-like symptoms," according to the Orioles. Minor leaguer Garabez Rosa will replace him at second base.
Here's the new lineup:
Xavier Avery CF Paul Janish SS Pedro Alvarez 1B Nolan Reimold DH L.J. Hoes RF Steve Tolleson 3B Julio Borbon LF Garabez Rosa 2B Audry Perez C
Ubaldo Jimenez...