masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIf you’re trying to keep track at home, Edwin Jackson is at extended spring training in Sarasota, left-hander Andrew Faulkner is on Triple-A Norfolk’s roster and Miguel Castro, today’s acquisition from the Rockies, has been optioned to Double-A Bowie.
Jackson eventually will be assigned to Norfolk, where he’s expected to work out of the bullpen. He could be used as a starter later if he stays in the organization, his contract including a June 1 opt-out clause, but for now he’s viewed as a…

If you’re trying to keep track at home, Edwin Jackson is at extended spring training in Sarasota, left-hander Andrew Faulkner is on Triple-A Norfolk’s roster and Miguel Castro, today’s acquisition from the Rockies, has been optioned to Double-A Bowie.

Jackson eventually will be assigned to Norfolk, where he’s expected to work out of the bullpen. He could be used as a starter later if he stays in the organization, his contract including a June 1 opt-out clause, but for now he’s viewed as a reliever.

The Orioles have 25 pitchers on their 40-man roster. All 15 position players are on the major league roster, with Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander assigned to the 10-day disabled list.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to seek out young, controllable pitchers who can be developed in the system and perhaps become cost-efficient pieces on the major league staff. Recent deals for Chris Lee, Jayson Aquino and Jesus Liranzo didn’t create a ripple in the industry, but the trio is evolving into legitimate prospects.

The Orioles don’t assume that the previous teams completely missed on these pitchers, but they want the opportunity to develop these arms.

“You can identify most of them and you go, ‘OK, I’d like to attack that,’ ” said manager Buck Showalter. “I can’t make him be 6-5, I can’t make him throw 97 with a plus slider, but I can attack the things that … see if you can get lucky. They might have run out of time. They may have a full roster.

“I know when we first acquired Liranzo or Aquino or Chris, everybody went, ‘OK, minor league deal.’ Well, guess what? Here we sit. We’ll see. There’s a long way from where they are now to contributing consistently, but where else are you going to get them from? We haven’t been too fortunate yet in some of the other programs that people are, so we’ll see.

“We’ve got a big June draft coming up again and we’ve got a lot of picks early again.”

The Orioles designated pitcher Joe Gunkel for assignment today to make room for Castro on the 40-man roster.

“Joe doesn’t have a prior outright,” Showalter said, “so hopefully that gets through and he rejoins our club.”

Chris Tillman’s first extended spring training start on Tuesday will consist of two innings or 30 pitches.

O'Day-Throws-White-Sidebar.jpgRelievers Darren O’Day, Donnie Hart, Vidal Nuño and Oliver Drake each pitched one inning yesterday morning in simulated games at Camden Yards. They didn’t pitch in the Blue Jays series.

Showalter wants to get catcher Caleb Joseph, infielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Craig Gentry into the lineup as soon as possible. Joseph definitely will be behind the plate this weekend.

“We’ll keep moving around until everybody gets their feet wet,” he said.

Ramón Martinez, the Orioles’ special assignment pitching instructor, will be inducted Saturday into the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, along with brothers Pedro and Jesus.

Ramon (1988-89), Pedro (1991-93) and Jesus (1995, 97) combined for a 33-15 record, 3.85 ERA and 424 strikeouts in 83 games with the Albuquerque Dukes.

“Anybody who’s been to Albuquerque and watched a game there, there’s not a whole lot of pitchers being inducted into the Hall of Fame in Albuquerque. I could hit a home run there,” Showalter said.

“We played an exhibition game there one time and we ran out of balls halfway through batting practice. Ran out. I’ve never seen balls carry like that.”