Duquette on Wieters, Graham on Harvey, Bundy on his outing today

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles got a bit of a scare earlier today when 2013 first-round pick Hunter Harvey had to leave his minor league start early in Fort Myers against the Twins.

Pitching for Single-A Frederick, Harvey was hit by a combacker and was taken out of the game.

Orioles director of player development Brian Graham got the news in Sarasota at the club's Twin Lakes complex where he was watching the Double-A and Triple-A teams play.

"I just heard he took a hard ground ball off the ankle and we took him out for precautionary reasons, and we'll see him when he gets back here. Nobody seemed very alarmed," Graham said.

Harvey will be examined by a team physician when Frederick returns to Sarasota later today. For now, the Orioles don't seem too concerned.

"It was on the outside of his ankle and just for precautionary measures, we took him out of the game," Graham said. "He walked off and he didn't want to come out of the game."

Harvey was with the Orioles in major league camp before being reassigned to minor league camp Monday. He pitched three innings over three games for the Orioles, allowing one hit and one unearned run with two walks and four strikeouts. He is likely to begin this year with Frederick.

Meanwhile, before the Orioles' game in Fort Myers this afternoon, manager Buck Showalter said it is now likely that catcher Matt Wieters will begin the regular season on the disabled list.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette was at the Twin Lakes complex watching the O's minor league teams and I asked him if Wieters is heading to the DL.

"Yeah, that is under consideration," Duquette said. "That is one option that we are considering. He has the tendinitis in his elbow and he has his own rehab schedule, so that is under consideration right now. Generally they take a little time, and it looks like Matt needs a little bit more time."

If he did start the season on the DL, would he be ready to return early in the season?

"Well, it really depends how he comes along. The surgery wasn't until June, so are we even 10 months from it? So there is some more time that needs to be put to his situation."

I asked Duquette if the club will look to add any catchers from outside the organization if Wieters does wind up on the DL.

"Well, we'd have to take a hard look at the catchers we have in camp first," he said.

Meanwhile, Dylan Bundy had a good outing today, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in the Double-A game. It was his first outing since he was optioned to Bowie from major league camp on Monday. He said his velocity was 90-94 mph on his fastball, about what it has been through the spring.

"Two innings, felt great. Threw 30, 31 pitches, ball was coming out of my hand well and arm felt great. Pretty happy with the outing," Bundy said.

"Today was definitely better. I was keeping the ball down better and also elevating the fastball when I wanted to instead of throwing it up when not meaning to. That is huge for me, to keep the ball down and elevate when I want to."

In major league camp, Bundy pitched in four games. Over six innings, he allowed seven hits and four runs with six walks and three strikeouts.

"It was good," he said of his time with the Orioles. "Didn't have the results I wanted. I was walking guys, but that is just part of the (comeback from) surgery and getting my command back to where it used to be. I want it to come sooner, but I'll keep working and doing what I need to.

"In big league camp, the biggest issue was fastball command and I feel like I'm starting to finally get that dialed back in. Now it's just my secondary pitch, curveball."

Bundy said he is expected to make another two-inning start on Thursday.

I asked him if he has been told what his innings load will be for the 2015 season.

"They don't know the exact number, but it's around 100 I'm sure," Bundy said. "That is fine with me. They've done all the research and they are trying to do what is best for me and I understand that."

In the Triple-A game, right-hander Oliver Drake gave up one run in one inning. He is expected to pitch again in a bullpen role this year, but he started today's game against the Twins' Triple-A team.

He faced Byron Buxton to start the game. Buxton, the player ranked as baseball's No. 2 prospect by Baseball America, tripled to center field and scored on a one-out grounder.

Here are some pictures from today at Twin Lakes Park: