Orioles announce more roster cuts

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles have reduced their camp roster to 55 today with five more cuts.

Pitchers Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly and Yefry Ramirez have been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and left-hander Andrew Faulkner and outfielder Jaycob Brugman have been reassigned to minor league camp.

The yearly reminder that players on the 40-man roster are optioned and non-roster players are reassigned. Also, the assignments to Norfolk can be adjusted later, with Double-A Bowie always a possibility.

Manager Buck Showalter has vowed to keep the cuts coming in order to get the camp roster down to a more workable size. There's always room for additions, however, and the number of unsigned free agents on the market increases the chances of the Orioles making other moves.

Crichton allowed one run and three hits, walked one and struck out three over 2 2/3 innings. Kelly, signed on the final day of the Winter Meetings, allowed one run and two hits, with two walks and three strikeouts, over 1 2/3 innings. All of the damage came over two-thirds of an inning in his debut against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Ramirez made only one appearance this spring. He surrendered one run and three hits with one walk and two strikeouts over two innings against the Cardinals on Feb. 28.

Faulkner allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings in his first two appearances, but he tossed a scoreless inning Sunday against the Red Sox and retired Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers and Jackie Bradley Jr. in succession.

It's been an interesting camp for Brugman, acquired in trade with the Athletics and expected to compete for a job as a platoon right fielder. The Orioles designated him for assignment on Feb. 21 after re-signing Chris Tillman, outrighted him to Norfolk and optioned him today after he went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts.

I remember his diving catch in left field.

Mike Wright Jr. starts Wednesday afternoon's game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Tampa Bay is sending left-hander Blake Snell to the mound.