SARASOTA, Fla. - Jair Jurrjens was making his final spring training start tonight. He didn't expect it to span only seven batters. "Yeah, that sucks," he said. To say the least. Jurrjens was nailed on the right ribcage by a line drive from New York Yankees designated hitter Thomas Neal in the top of the second inning. He will undergo precautionary X-rays on Thursday at 8 a.m. "Phew, scary. Really scary," he said. "I think I tried to come back a little bit and that's why it got me...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter often says that the final week of spring training can be the most worrisome because of the risk of injuries. The idea is to get out of camp in good health. Two days ago, infielder Wilson Betemit suffered a Grade 2/3 tear of his right PCL. And tonight, starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens faced only seven batters before being hit by a line drive off the bat of New York Yannkees designated hitter Thomas Neal with no outs in the second inning. The ball...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The third shoe dropped today in Orioles camp. Besides pitcher Kevin Gausman and first baseman Travis Ishikawa, the Orioles also reassigned catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter met with him following batting practice. The moves leave the Orioles with 34 players in spring training, including six non-roster invitees. They must get down to 25 by 3 p.m. Sunday. Robinson went 4-for-11 in 10 games. He left the team to play for Canada in the World...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned right-hander Kevin Gausman, infielder Travis Ishikawa and catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 34 players at major league spring training, including six non-roster invitees.

VIERA, Fla. - Add Ross Detwiler to the lengthy list of Nationals players who can't wait for the regular season to start. "Beautiful Viera, where the wind always blows out," Detwiler joked as reporters approached him in the Nationals' clubhouse after today's outing. Detwiler's final tune-up before the regular season was a pretty solid one. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, both on solo home runs. He surrendered eight hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out two in a...

VIERA, Fla. - Eight home runs were hit at Space Coast Stadium today. Five of those eight came off the collective bats of Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos. Zimmerman crushed three home runs in a three-at-bat span this afternoon, giving him four longballs on the spring and boosting his Grapefruit League average to .308. Each year, Zimmerman says he needs 50 at-bats in spring to feel like he's ready for the season. Strangely enough, his first homer of the day came with Zimmerman having 49...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The decision came easily for manager Buck Showalter. He just needed confirmation that Jason Hammel was healthy. If Hammel's knee cooperated, he would take the ball on opening day at Tropicana Field for the Orioles. "Just a health thing," Showalter said today after confirming Hammel's assignment. "We look at it as one of the five starters. He will be the first guy of the season. We don't look at it like socially or whatever. It's just our team. It's, 'You're gong...

SARASOTA, Fla. - So how's that for a flurry of activity today? Just wait until the Orioles actually play a game tonight. Jason Hammel finally had the freedom to talk about his opening day assignment on April 2. Manager Buck Showalter was impressed that the right-hander waited until reporters already had been notified before discussing it. It's also the little things that get noticed around here. "It's an honor," Hammel said. "I'm very excited. Basically, what it means is I get to be...

The Washington Nationals today re-assigned left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 28 players in their big league camp.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel was officially named the Orioles' opening day starter today by manager Buck Showalter. He will take the ball April 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Wei-Yi Chen will pitch the second game against the Rays and Miguel Gonzalez will be the third starter in the series at Tropicana Field. Chris Tillman will pitch the home opener April 5 if he is not placed on the disabled list. Otherwise, he will pitch the fifth day because the assignment would be backdated. Showalter...