Bullpen sessions highlight first day of workouts

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  Roch Kubatko

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  February 14, 2017 2:12 pm

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SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles completed their first workout for pitchers and catchers. The usual fielding drills, including one on the Camden Yards replica field where players shift to each infield position during bunts. This is how manager Buck Showalter ensures that they know where each teammate will be in game situations.
New catcher Welington Castillo caught Mychal Givens’ bullpen session as part of Group 1. Castillo met with Givens halfway between the mound and plate to check how many…

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles completed their first workout for pitchers and catchers. The usual fielding drills, including one on the Camden Yards replica field where players shift to each infield position during bunts. This is how manager Buck Showalter ensures that they know where each teammate will be in game situations.

New catcher Welington Castillo caught Mychal Givens’ bullpen session as part of Group 1. Castillo met with Givens halfway between the mound and plate to check how many pitches the reliever wanted to throw.

Givens said between 25-30, if you’re curious.

Givens was joined by Logan Verrett and Tyler Wilson. Group 2 consisted of Mike Wright, Zach Stewart and Jason Garcia. Group 3 consisted of Donnie Hart, Oliver Drake and Gabriel Ynoa. Group 4 consisted of Jayson Aquino and Parker Bridwell, followed by Rich Rodríguez and Joe Gunkel in Group 5.

Aquino has been working on his breaking ball and it showed today. His stuff was nasty, and it played out in front of executive vice president Dan Duquette, who observed the session.

Wright’s fastball also gained noticed when he snapped one of the strings running across the plate. A teammate joked that the cost to repair it would be deducted from his meal money.

Manager Buck Showalter will meet with the media later this afternoon.

Orioles right-hander Darren O’Day looks on at the first day of camp.

Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez and new catcher Welington Castillo get acquainted.

Orioles pitchers and catchers stretch to start the first workout of spring training.

Right-handers Logan Verrett, Tyler Wilson and Mychal Givens throw a bullpen session.