masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Adam Russell to minor league camp.

Exposito is on the 40-man roster, which is why he’s been optioned rather than reassigned.

Exposito was 8-for-21 in 14 games, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. His work behind the plate was shaky, however, and included a catcher’s interference call for using his mask to retrieve the ball.

The Orioles have plenty of…SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Adam Russell to minor league camp.

Exposito is on the 40-man roster, which is why he’s been optioned rather than reassigned.

Exposito was 8-for-21 in 14 games, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. His work behind the plate was shaky, however, and included a catcher’s interference call for using his mask to retrieve the ball.

The Orioles have plenty of catching candidates for Norfolk, including Chris Robinson, Allan de San Miguel and Luis Martinez. Also, Caleb Joseph and Brian Ward remain in the organization.

Schlereth, the son of former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth, gave up five runs and five hits in one-third of an inning yesterday against the Boston Red Sox. He allowed nine runs and 10 hits in six innings this spring and was scored upon in his last five appearances.

Russell inherited three runners from Schlereth yesterday and all of them scored. He was charged with six runs and 10 hits in seven innings this spring.

Both relievers are expected to begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

The cuts leave the Orioles with 45 players in camp, including Kevin Gausman, last year’s first-round pick out of LSU.

Note: Former Orioles pitcher Jason Johnson has signed with the independent Amarillo Sox, according to a tweet from the American Association. Johnson also will serve as pitching coach.

Johnson worked out for the Orioles last spring, throwing a side session one afternoon.