Updates on Hunter, Peguero, Escalona and more

HOUSTON - Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter has been throwing on flat ground for the past four days and could be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible on June 5. Assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel is flying back to Baltimore for his son's graduation, "and he's going to pick up Tommy's rehab a little bit there," said manager Buck Showalter. "Tommy's been on flat ground for four days. He feels good. I'm going to let Brian kind of handle that once he gets there about when he might go pitch some. But that's progressing well." Hunter went on the disabled list retroactive to May 21 with a strained left groin. His progression from the injury makes his original return date a real possibility. "He's got a shot at that," Showalter said. Outfielder Francisco Peguero underwent an exam today in Baltimore and will remain on the disabled list. No longer bothered by right wrist tendinitis, Peguero currently is sidelined with a hamstring injury. "That means, he'll kind of start the rehab over," Showalter said. Peguero's first rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk ended today and the Orioles would have been required to place him on the active roster or risk losing him on waivers. Pitcher Edgmer Escalona will begin his injury rehab assignment Friday at Norfolk. Escalona is on the 60-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. I wrote earlier today that Dylan Bundy threw three innings in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, walking three batters and striking out four. Showalter said Bundy threw 50 pitches. "Went well," Showalter added. Matt Wieters will do some light tossing Friday afternoon before batting practice. "Matt's supposed to start throwing a little bit, just putting a ball in his hand and playing toss," Showalter said. "It's not like he's going to go foul line to foul line or go behind the plate. This is the first time he's going to throw a little bit. It's part of the process. So far, so good. "We were hoping he'd be able to do that at the three week mark, which is where we were yesterday, I think. First step, so hopefully that goes well. Feels good so far." Showalter won't necessarily use Friday's session to gauge Wieters' recovery from a right elbow strain. "I gauge it by listening to Matt and listening to the trainers," Showalter said. "I don't think we're going to get a definitive answer. Hopefully, it starts the process of getting a little bit more and a little bit more and getting to the point. "I think we've given it every opportunity to heal itself, so to speak, or scar over. We're hoping that's the case, but we won't really know until probably his third or fourth session when he kind of starts stretching out a step. "It wouldn't be anything real strenuous tomorrow."