Brian Roberts received a nice ovation tonight as he walked to the plate for his first Orioles at-bat since May 16, 2011. Many of the fans stood and applauded. It's far from a packed house, but they made a lot of noise. Roberts looks a little different wearing a specially designed batting helmet with ear flaps on both sides to provide extra protection, but the swing is the same. Roberts ran the count full against Pirates starter Brad Lincoln and lined a single into center field, bringing...

The Orioles have made the move official to reinstate Brian Roberts and from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for Roberts on the roster, the club has optioned Steve Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Roberts has been on the disabled list with a concussion since May 17, 2011. He batted .238/.340/.429 with five doubles, a home run, five RBI and six runs in a 14 game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Delmarva (two games), Double-A...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated 2B Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for Roberts on the roster, the club has optioned INF Steve Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred OF Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Roberts has been on the disabled list with a concussion since May 17, 2011. He batted .238/.340/.429 with five doubles, a home run, five RBI and six runs in a 14 game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Delmarva (two games),...

The Orioles received a dose of good news and a dose of bad news, so they're playing .500 today. The bad news is related to left-hander Brian Matusz, who fouled a bunted ball off his nose and might miss tomorrow night's start against the Pirates. Matusz was preparing for the next round of interleague games on the road, where the pitcher is required to hit. He was squaring up against a pitching machine, since batting practice was cancelled due to the rain. "It's off the machine," manager...

For the first time since last May 16, Brian Roberts name is atop the Orioles' lineup at second base for tonight's game at Camden Yards against Pittsburgh. While Roberts has not been officially activated yet, he will if the game is played. He's waited a while for this day and noted he now could possibly have to wait yet another day. "Praying the rain goes away," he said during a Camden Yards press conference a few moments ago. "It's been a year test of patience, so why not one more day....

The Nationals announced they have signed 10 of their first 14 picks from last week's First-Year Player draft. They are second baseman Tony Renda (second round), outfielder Brandon Miller (fourth round), catcher Spencer Kieboom (fifth round), center fielder Hayden Jennings (sixth round), right-hander Derek Self (ninth round), catcher Craig Manuel (10th round), right-hander Brian Rauh (11th round), third baseman Carlos Lopez (12th round), left-hander Elliott Waterman (13th round) and right...

Brian Matusz was hit on the nose by a ball while performing a bunting drill, and he may not make tomorrow's start against the Pirates. The Orioles' corresponding 25-man roster move to accommodate Brian Roberts could hinge on Matusz's status. Also, Nolan Reimold likely will go on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. He's having another MRI tomorrow. Update: OK, sorry for the short blog entry, but I was racing from the press conference to manager Buck Showalter's...

The Orioles have posted their lineup for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and, weather permitting, Brian Roberts will lead off and play second base. It will be Roberts' first appearance in a major league game since May 16, 2011 in Boston and the culmination of a long recovery from concussion symptoms. No official roster move has been made, so we'll have to wait for the Orioles to accommodate Roberts' return to the 25- and 40-man rosters. It's raining right now at Camden...

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of 23 players selected in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft: second baseman Anthony Renda (second round), outfielder Brandon Miller (fourth round), catcher Spence Kieboom (fifth round), center fielder Hayden Jennings (sixth round), right-handed pitcher Derek Self (ninth round), catcher Craig Manuel (tenth round), right-handed pitcher Brian Rauh (11th round), third baseman Carlos Lopez (12th round), left-handed pitcher Elliott Waterman (13th...

Some big news at Double-A Harrisburg, as the Senators welcome major league rehabbing players Chris Marrero and Ryan Mattheus, and activate Jeff Kobernus from the disabled list. Marrero went 7-for-17 (.412) with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs in six games with low Single-A Hagerstown and high Single-A Potomac. He has recovered from a torn hamstring suffered in winter ball, as well as a sore shoulder and now a bruised thumb. Mattheus has been battling back from a nagging plantar fasciitis...