Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster

Vance Worley didn't know he made the club until noticing today that his jerseys and pants were hanging in his locker at Camden Yards. Nolan Reimold wasn't aware that he was part of the Orioles' 25-man roster until realizing that no one told him otherwise as morning turned to afternoon.

The bubble guys didn't burst.

Worley started Friday night's exhibition game in Philadelphia and had no idea whether the ensuing trip to Baltimore signified that he was staying for opening day.

"Just trying to patiently wait," he said. "You can only be so patient and today I show up and I've got everything in my locker, so I was like, 'OK, that's a good start.' And then I got called into the office and they said, 'Congrats, you've made it,' so now it's just do as I'm told. When I get the ball, go."

The question is when he's getting the ball. The information coming from the Orioles hasn't been expansive.

"I'm out of the 'pen to start the season," Worley said, "and that's it."

The Orioles need a fifth starter on April 10 and Worley, who was 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 16 2/3 innings over eight exhibition games, is a candidate for the assignment. Tyler Wilson also is a consideration.

"Sure, I guess," Worley said. "Like I said, when I get the ball, just take it and go, and that's all I know right now."

Worley broke camp with the Pirates last year and now he's sticking with the Orioles on opening day, though there seemed to be a lot more moving parts this spring. He can't remember being in a camp with so many decisions pending over the final hours.

"No, not that late," he said. "Usually, by that last scrimmage there's maybe two guys left in camp that are on the bubble. We took a lot of guys to Philly. Yeah, a lot of last-minute decisions, but I think they finally made up their mind what they want this team to be."

Now with his fourth organization in seven years, Worley couldn't take anything for granted and assume that he earned a spot on the pitching staff.

"You don't want to assume anything, not in this game," said Worley, who's 31-28 with a 3.79 ERA in 104 games, including 81 starts. "I've been that guy on the bubble the last few years, and really spring training isn't what it used to be where you can go into camp and just work your way into baseball shape. You have to show up ready to go to win a job, and that's how I took this spring."

Reimold was a late cut last spring as a non-roster invitee despite hitting .340/.439/.489 in 24 games, his lack of minor league options working against him. He needed a torrid stretch at the end of camp this spring to improve his slash line to .269/.356/.481 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 18 games.

"I never really feel safe," he said. "I think that the strong finish probably helped a little bit, but it's just one of those things. I've been here for a long time, so I think they kind of know where I'm at as a player and hopefully I'll be here for the long haul and win some games."

Reimold and Hyun Soo Kim made the club while Xavier Avery was reassigned to minor league camp. Reimold didn't know how it would play out as he showed up for the workout.

"I guess as the deadline passed and nobody told me I didn't make the club, so today. But it's good to be here and good to be able to have an opening day," he said.

Reimold can back up at all three positions when he isn't in the lineup.

"I don't really know what to expect," he said, "but I'll be ready for anything and we'll see what happens."