Today's pitching plans and Mountcastle's workouts at first base

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Alcides Escobar is in Orioles camp this morning and taking his physical. He's been assigned uniform No. 1.

Rule 5 pick Richie Martin sits next to him in the clubhouse. He's also been assigned No. 1.

My guess here is that Martin will be changing numbers.

Four fields will be used again today for living batting practice. Alex Cobb, Yefry Ramírez and Mychal Givens will throw inside the stadium. John Means, Josh Rogers and Zach Pop are on Field 2. Mike Wright Jr., Chris Lee and Josh Lucas are on Field 3. Paul Fry, Bo Schultz, Donnie Hart, Pedro Araujo and Miguel Castro are on Field 4.

Cobb, Ramírez, Means, Rogers, Wright and Lee are scheduled for two turns.

Infield drills will continue today and Ryan Mountcastle again is preparing to work out at first and third base, plans verbalized to him a few days ago.

Mountcastle already made the conversion from shortstop to third and manager Brandon Hyde wants to give him reps across the diamond while the organization searches for his ideal position.

"Just try to get my feet wet," said Mountcastle, 22, taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2015 draft.

His experience at first is limited, to say the least.

"I may have played a game or two here and there," he said, "but no, not really."

Hyde didn't declare yesterday that players working out at specific positions would stay there, again preaching the need for versatility on the roster. But Mountcastle had been concentrating last spring on improving his skills at third rather than moving around.

José Hernandez, promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as a major league coach, is assisting Mountcastle. The Orioles also can call upon José Flores, the third base coach who doubles as infield instructor, and Mike Bordick, a camp instructor who later returns to the MASN broadcast booth.

"I felt good," Mountcastle said. "I think it's pretty easy to pick up, just coming from the other side of the field, the other corner. I feel good over there.

"At first base, it's just a lot of footwork around the bag and trying to help your teammates out. Trying to pick balls, trying to stretch out, do whatever you can to get the out."

The Orioles are confident that Mountcastle's bat will play in the majors, perhaps later this summer. He's a career .289/.323/.453 hitter in five minor league seasons and totaled 48 doubles, 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 2017 while playing for Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie.

But where will they put him?

No one is eager to make him a designated hitter at such a young age. Concerns about his arm led to his removal from short. Some progress was made last summer at third and the Orioles aren't abandoning the experiment.

"I feel like I did a lot better over there, just getting my throws down and my footwork, stuff like that," he said. "I feel more confident, for sure."

The Orioles haven't laid out their spring plans for Mountcastle beyond the workouts, but he anticipates getting some innings at first base in Grapefruit League competition.

"I'm assuming I'd get a couple games in over there," he said.

Mountcastle had to find a mitt. In one of the more convenient setups in camp, his locker is next to first baseman Chris Davis.

It's like borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor. A sweet arrangement.

"My buddy Chris gave me one," he said, laughing.