Matt Wieters behind the plate, Dariel Alvarez on the radar, Jimmy Paredes on a roll

SARASOTA, Fla. - The day has arrived.

Matt Wieters will be behind the plate for today's Grapefruit League game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. The opponent won't be told to treat the stolen base like a felony. The Twins can run and Wieters can fire the ball to second. Just like the good ol' days.

He can't wait for his first opportunity.

Dr. James Andrews set March 17 as the target date and Wieters didn't experience any setbacks that forced a change in plans. He's been building for this moment, his patience tested but common sense always prevailing.

Nothing else that happens today will be hyped as much as this game. The Orioles could make a few more cuts, but none that will come as a major surprise. It's all about Wieters today, whether he likes it or not.

Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez survived yesterday's cuts. It's just a matter of time before he's reassigned to minor league camp, but he's made a favorable impression. There's nothing else that needs to be done here.

Asked whether Alvarez could have an impact on the Orioles this season, manager Buck Showalter replied, "At some point."

"I like him," Showalter said. "He likes to play. He really likes to play. He's like (Julio) Borbon. You can tell he's watched a lot of different baseball. I like his energy.

"We've told him some things that he's picked up right away. We talked to him a lot about if the ball's put in play, batted or thrown, nine guys have a place to be. If you're sitting there picking your (butt), you're in the wrong place.

"There was a ball hit to the left field line and he's standing right behind second base anticipating the angle of the throw. Every time he does it now, he looks in the dugout to see if I'm looking and he (waves). I really hope that his English comes. I hope it comes as much as Henry (Urrutia) has."

Is language the next barrier?

"I think the slider down and away, and nobody has ever broke through that barrier," Showalter said. "Ty Cobb couldn't hit it if you got it in the right place. Not that I knew him personally.

"I think just reps. He's 26. He's been exposed to some pretty high-level baseball, so he's got a bright future."

Unlike his first home run, Alvarez hustled around the bases yesterday after lining a ball over the left field fence. He didn't celebrate at the plate with a series of gestures before going into his trot. He dropped the bat, lowered his head and took off.

Alvarez was hit by a pitch in his next at-bat, but purely by accident.

"I had to come up here and talk to (Hunter) Harvey and I said, 'What did Alvarez do?' And I was told, 'He got hit with a pitch,' " Showalter recalled. "I was going back thinking, 'OK, he went around the bases nice.' No, it was an 0-2 fastball that got away."

Jimmy Paredes also homered yesterday, drove in five runs and raised his average to .429. He's also been much better in the field than the player we saw last summer.

The issue, of course, is Paredes being out of options. He'd have to clear waivers if the Orioles wanted to send him to Triple-A Norfolk, and that's not likely to happen considering how well he's playing. Scouts do attend these games.

Paredes couldn't be the only utility infielder on the club. He's improved defensively, but not to the point where he'd be a suitable replacement at any position. Ryan Flaherty is better. Everth Cabrera is better, and he started in center field yesterday.

I'm not sure what the Orioles will do if Paredes continues down this spring path and it's truly amazing to me that he's emerged as one of the best players in camp. Did not see that coming.