Grapefruit League

Orioles designated hitter Wilson Betemit hobbled into team's clubhouse Tuesday morning on crutches with his right leg in a bulky brace. A day after falling to the ground between first and second base during a Grapefruit League game, Betemit said he's been told that the Grade 2/3 posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee will keep him out for at least six to eight weeks. “I feel really heavy today, like [I weigh] 300 pounds,” Betemit said. “But let's see what happens with my rehab in a couple weeks.” The switch-hitting Betemit was scheduled to be the team's regular left-handed designated hitter against -- he compiled a .302/.357/.502 while hitting 10 homers in 255 at bats against right-handed pitching last season.

Once Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman left his last Grapefruit League outing Thursday, he believed it would be his final chance to pitch in his first big league camp. But despite optioning top prospect Dylan Bundy to Double-A Bowie on Saturday, the Orioles want to see Gausman, the team's No. 2 prospect, at least one more time before assigning him to minor league camp, especially since this is the former LSU standout's first big league camp since being drafted fourth overall last season.

The Orioles reassigned a pair of non-roster invitees, catcher Jose Gil and infielder Nuiman Romero, to minor league camp on Thursday. The moves leave 51 players remaining in big league camp, 14 of them non-roster invitees. Romero was 4-for-11 with and RBI and a walk in 12 Grapefruit League games. Gil was 0-for-10 with five strikesouts in seven spring games.  

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen allowed one run over three innings Monday afternoon in his second Grapefruit League outing against the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Chen allowed a run-scoring ground-rule double to Colby Rasmus in the second inning, one of two hits the Taiwanese lefthander yielded. Chen was able to rebound nicely, stranding runners at first and second by straiking out catcher Jeff Mathis.   Chen, who struck out two and walked one, struggled with his control, falling into several deep counts while he tried to work on the feel of his two-seamer and off-speed pitches.

Zach Britton , who is in the mix for the club's fifth starter spot, really struggled Wednesday, lasting just 1 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. The lefty gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks while retiring only four batters. He loaded the bases - on two walks and a single - and then J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run double before Britton could get an out. He allowed a two-run homer to Emilio Bonifacio in the second inning. Britton threw 59 pitches, 36 for strikes in the abbreviated start.

They were meaningless exhibitions, but there was a lot to like about the Orioles' first two Grapefruit League wins. The Orioles jacked six home runs out of the park, scored 18 runs in two games and got quality outings from Brad Bergesen and Jeremy Guthrie. Once again, though, these games don't count in the standings, so it's hard for me to get too worked up about the Orioles' wins. What about you? Has the Orioles' power surge made you think the Orioles will win a few extra games this year?

The Orioles host the Blue Jays this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. This will be right-hander Tommy Hunter's first Grapefruit League start of the spring. He threw four innings in a minor league game on Friday. Dontrelle Willis has arrived at Orioles camp today. He appears happy to be here and is eager to earn a spot in the team's bullpen. Read more about Willis' arrival HERE. Here's the Orioles lineup: Endy Chavez RF JJ Hardy SS Wilson Betemit 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP

The Orioles announced today that they have signed and invited 12 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp in Sarasota, Fla. The club invited the following: pitchers Chris George, Mike Hinckley, Jake Arrieta, Frank Mata, Josh Perrault, Alfredo Simon and Ross Wolf; outfielder Jeff Salazar and infielder Scott Moore; and catchers Michel Hernandez, Caleb Joseph and Chad Moeller. The Orioles' first workout for pitchers and catchers will be held Feb. 18, followed by the first full-squad workout on Feb. 23. The team opens Grapefruit League play against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 3 at Ed Smith Stadium.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman went five innings and allowed one unearned run in his final spring start Friday, a 6-1 exhibition win over the State College of Florida. Tillman, who was placed on the disabled list with abdominal soreness, said he supported the Orioles decision to place him there to start the season. “It is what it is," Tillman. "I was hurt. I did miss an amount of time enough time to not get ready for one of the early games. I don't disagree with it. " Tillman, who threw 81 pitches against SCF on Friday, allowed one unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

The Minnesota Twins brought out their best Thursday night, fielding an exhibition lineup that very likely will be the same on Opening Day. They certainly played their best, hammering starter Kevin Millwood on the way to a rain-shortened 8-3 victory over the Orioles at Hammond Stadium. Michael Cuddyer led off the second inning with a home run, and the Twins batted around to score four times in the second inning and spoil Millwood's second Grapefruit League start in an Orioles uniform.