SARASOTA – The first shocking move of Orioles camp happened this afternoon after the top of the first inning.

The team’s rotation plans finally came into focus.

Dean Kremer wasn’t in them.

Kremer has been optioned to the minor league side in the latest round of cuts. Right-handers Trey Gibson, Nestor German and Hans Crouse were reassigned.

The spring training roster is down to 43 players. Kremer was expected to be the No. 5 starter.

Zach Eflin apparently has made the club and avoided a stint on the injured list after his August back surgery. He checked the last box, as manager Craig Albernaz put it this morning, by shutting out the Yankees on one hit and striking out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings, and by making three plays in the field to prove again that he’s healthy.

Trevor Rogers was named the Opening Day starter on March 26 against the Twins at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish will be next on the 28th, and Shane Baz is lined up to start the next game.

Chris Bassitt and Eflin will round out a rotation that won’t have the team’s innings leader from 2025.

Kremer logged 171 2/3 innings last season in 31 games and has totaled 671 2/3 over 126 games between 2020-25. His stay in the minors could be brief with three off-days in the first 15 days and the club’s knack for orchestrating roster churns.

The earliest that Kremer can return is April 9 unless he’s an injury replacement. His career 6.24 ERA in March/April might have factored into the decision. Maybe not.

Albernaz and president of baseball operations Mike Elias will explain the rationale later.

Kremer has registered ERAs of 3.23, 4.12, 4.10 and 4.19 in 109 games over the past four seasons. He appeared in four spring training games this year, including an “unofficial” matchup with Team Netherlands, and allowed five runs and nine hits in 13 innings. He walked eight batters and struck out 12.

Part of his workload came in the World Baseball Classic, where he tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Team Israel before returning to camp.

The Orioles are sticking with a five-man rotation and going with eight relievers, which seems to put Grant Wolfram, Yaramil Hiraldo, Jackson Kowar and Albert Suárez back in competition for two spots. Wolfram has thrown seven scoreless innings, including the game against Team Netherlands, with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

Gibson is the organization’s No. 5 prospect. He tossed three scoreless innings last night in the Spring Breakout game. German, ranked No. 12, allowed one run over three innings.

Crouse appeared in only one game this spring and allowed two runs and three hits in one inning.