Showalter with a solid report on Santander's first rehab game

ARLINGTON, Texas - The rehab assignments at Double-A Bowie for utilityman Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Anthony Santander got off to strong starts last night - at least for three innings.

Bowie took an early 9-0 lead over Akron before the game was suspended by rain. Due to be completed today and then followed by another game, that got rained out, too.

But Orioles manager Buck Showalter got a positive report on Santander, a player the Orioles took in the December Rule 5 draft who has been on the disabled list all year. He went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, scored twice and knocked in two runs.

"The guy they were facing last night was 87, 88 (mph). But that is encouraging about Santander," Showalter said. "We've said all along, he's an interesting guy. He's one of those guys you watch in the game and your eyes are kind of drawn to him. An old scout said a long time ago, 'He fills up a batter's box.' I like that statement."

Santander is expected to join the Orioles when his rehab assignment is up. That could last a full 20 days.

"He has to (join the Orioles)," Showalter said of a Rule 5 pick that cannot be optioned to the minors. "He has, what, 20 days on the rehab? Sometime in the next 18 days. It's exciting. Anytime you invest that much time and effort - the scouting, the selection, the rehab. We knew we would have to rehab the surgery and to see the potential where you can get a payback for it. That is always uplifting."

Santander has been on the DL since late March with a right forearm strain. Showalter seems excited to get a look at him on the big league level a few weeks down the road.

Orioles closer Zach Britton has been scored on in two of his last three games, giving up two runs in an inning last week against Texas and also allowing two runs over an inning Wednesday at Tampa Bay.

Does Britton still have another level to go to with his stuff since his return early this month from his second DL stint?

"He's the same stuff-wise," Showalter said. "We just haven't presented him with enough opportunities. We've seen him in one save situation. I think he has had about 18 outings now since he was hurt. He's ready to go. I think we'll see it if we can get him into situations like that. He feels good. You can tell he feels good."

Right-hander Chris Tillman pitches the series opener for the Orioles here tonight. It seems his stuff is trending up, bringing his ERA down. Tillman has an ERA of 3.31 over his past three games, allowing six runs over 16 1/3 innings.

"I think he has kind of gotten over spring training and physically he's not thinking about anything other than competing," Showalter said. "I just think he is in a good place physically. His work days are going good. He's taken some of the unknown out, 'Is that going to hurt?' "

Meanwhile, the skipper provided the latest positive report on right-hander Hunter Harvey, who is now more than one year removed from his Tommy John surgery from last July 26. He has now pitched twice in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, throwing a combined three scoreless innings with no walks and two strikeouts.

"Encouraging," Showalter said. "His arm strength (is there) and he doesn't have any caution with his breaking ball or changeup. I agree that when he gets done (for this season), he just goes home and has a regular offseason. Talking to Dylan (Bundy, who came back from the same type surgery), that was big for him to go home and start a normal offseason program. I'm excited about Hunter."