masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFor now, Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Matt Hobgood is avoiding the disabled list.

Hobgood, last June’s first-round O’s pick, left his last start on Saturday night at Lexington after just nine pitches due to lower back spasms.

He is reporting some improvement. For now the O’s will monitor his progress, but a date for his return to the Shorebirds rotation has not been set. That was according to a club official. In tonight’s Delmarva Shorebirds game notes, they list Hobgood to start…For now, Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Matt Hobgood is avoiding the disabled list.

Hobgood, last June’s first-round O’s pick, left his last start on Saturday night at Lexington after just nine pitches due to lower back spasms.

He is reporting some improvement. For now the O’s will monitor his progress, but a date for his return to the Shorebirds rotation has not been set. That was according to a club official. In tonight’s Delmarva Shorebirds game notes, they list Hobgood to start this coming Friday night.

Hobgood is 3-7, 4.91 over 17 starts.

Bowie catcher Caleb Joseph has begun a throwing program that should lead to his return to the active roster.

Joseph has been on the DL since July 23rd when he suffered a sprained right shoulder in a home plate collision.

O’s reliever Jim Johnson, who is on the comeback trail and pitched an inning in a Gulf Coast League game yesterday, is scheduled to pitch another inning for the GCL O’s on Thursday.