Shepherd on making first exhibition start (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Andrew Velazquez has reported to the Orioles' spring training complex, taking Richard Ureña's 40-man roster spot and his locker.

Velazquez, who's wearing No. 88, joins the utility competition.

Chandler Shepherd found out yesterday that he'd get the start in Saturday's exhibition opener against the Braves in North Port. Félix Hernández is starting for Atlanta.

"I knew coming into camp that I was going to have some opportunities to throw," Shepherd said. "Obviously I didn't know when, but I'm super-excited to kick off spring training getting the ball."

It hadn't occurred to Shepherd that he started the final game of the 2019 season in Boston - a day before the club removed him from the 40-man roster - and would be the first on the mound in Florida.

The media are more inclined to notice these things.

"I never really thought about it like that, to be honest with you," he said.

"I think going through the year last year, there were a lot of things that I was working on. I finished up pretty strong, I felt like, in that start and I kind of took that into the offseason with things to continue to keep getting better on.

"I'm just excited to get out there tomorrow to get into a game and apply those things."

Shepherd, who registered a 6.63 ERA and 1.526 WHIP in five games last season, stuck with his usual training routine.

"The strength and conditioning part, I just wanted to maintain that through the offseason, obviously get stronger," he said. "Like I've said many times, to me I think it's just kind of working on those pitches, developing them, but it's the consistency for me. Having that third or fourth pitch, especially being in the rotation the last year, it's something that's really helping me.

"I think I took a stride last year with that. That second half of the season for me last year, it kind of started to show up in the games."

Left-hander John Means is making his spring debut on Tuesday, when the Orioles play split-squad games against the Rays in Sarasota and the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Orioles starters tend to be shielded from division opponents in spring training, which could push Means to Twin Lakes Park or a simulated game. Otherwise, the rule will be bent and he'll face the Rays or Red Sox.

Asher Wojciechowski is pitching Wednesday against the Braves in Sarasota.

Dean Kremer pitches Monday against the Phillies in Clearwater.

First baseman Chris Davis, who's missed the last two workouts due to illness, wasn't in the clubhouse this morning.

The final workout is held today in temeperatures tumbling into the 50s and it's a shorter version, giving players some time off before exhibition games.

"It's going really good," said catcher Pedro Severino. "We've got an opportunity to be here right now and try to do our thing and show everybody what we can do."

Severino made most of the starts behind the plate last year, but he isn't assuming that the job belongs to him.

"I don't know yet because they don't tell anybody," he said. "I mean, everybody here has to be ready."

Severino is out of options and had the finest offensive season of his major league career, which began with four plate appearances with the Nationals in 2015. He's staying.

"My mentality was to show everybody that I can hit in the big leagues," he said. "That's one of the questions, if I could hit in the big leagues, so that was my goal. Show everybody that I can hit in the big leagues, because my defense was already right there."