Hyun Soo Kim on making the roster plus minor league rotations and notes

When the Orioles announced their opening day roster this afternoon, outfielder Hyun Soo Kim was on it. He did not accept an asssignment to the minor leagues and the Orioles are not prepared to release him.

"Very happy to be on the roster and will try my best," Kim said through translater Danny Lee this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse.

Kim said, "Not too much," when asked if he considered the minor league assignment. He had the contractual right to refuse such an assignment and did.

He was asked if he is comfortable with the Orioles management after the events of the past few days and also what reaction he might get from fans on opening day.

"Not too sure what kind of reaction the fans might have being new here," he said. "The management has done what they had to do. There is nothing I have any feelings about. I will just try to do what I was doing here before. Want to show the fans and others watching what I can do.

"I heard the news I made the roster today and am starting to realize I am part of the team. I will try my best to perform as a member of the team."

Kim went 0-for-1 Friday night at Philadelphia in his first game action since March 26. He ended the spring batting .178 with no extra-base hits and two RBIs in 45 at-bats. Kim got an estimated 20 more at-bats in minor league games.

A couple of lockers away from Kim, Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard sat down, taking in his new clubhouse surroundings. He is expected to make his major league debut tomorrow after batting .397 this spring. It should be a pretty exciting next 24 hours for this young man.

"I'm trying not to think too far ahead," Rickard said. "Everything is happening so fast and I couldn't be more excited. This is a dream come true. In spring, I just tried as hard as I could to relax and stay within myself. It is easier said than done, but I'm comfortable and happy with how it went."

Minor league notes: Orioles 2015 minor league Player of the Year Trey Mancini is going to start the season at Double-A Bowie, according to director of player development Brian Graham.

Mancini hit .359/.395/.586 with an OPS of .981 in 84 games last year at Bowie and was expected to begin this season at Triple-A Norfolk. But Joey Terdoslavich is going to open the year as Norfolk's first baseman with Christian Walker in left for the Tides.

Graham explained the decision for Mancini to start back at Bowie.

"For us as an organization to begin the season, we just want all our assets to get an opportunity to play," Graham said. "Mancini is one of our best prospects and he can go from Double-A to the big leagues just as he can from Triple-A.

"Just to begin the year he'll start in Double-A. He may not be there very long. I explained this to Trey and he completely understands. Trey plans on playing extremely well and not being in Double-A very long."

The minor league rosters have not been announced yet, but here are the starting pitchers for now for each team, although the orders are not set.

Norfolk: Nick Additon, Odrisamer Despaigne, Todd Redmond and Terry Doyle.

Bowie: Joe Gunkel, David Hess, Parker Bridwell, Ariel Miranda, Chris Lee and Jason Garcia.

Single-A Frederick: Mitch Horacek, Matthew Grimes, Chipper Smith and John Means.

Single-A Delmarva: Brian Gonzalez, Lucas Long, Cory Jones, Cristian Alvarado and Ofelky Peralta.

Norfolk has one starter too few and Bowie has six right now. It is possible that a pitcher from Bowie gets moved up to Norfolk by opening day. There is also a chance the O's add a Triple-A starter not currently in the organization.

Pitcher Hunter Harvey, the O's 2013 first-round pick, will start the year with Single-A Frederick. Harvey was forced out of Tuesday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third inning due to a mild groin strain. The Orioles are targeting the Keys' opening homestand for his first start of 2016. That homestand begins on April 14.