Afternoon notes on Kim, Wieters and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim said today through his interpreter that he hasn't read the FOXSports.com article stating that the Orioles are holding internal discussions about sending him back to Korea. He didn't have a comment for reporters who approached his locker.

Asked whether he feels good about his chances of making the team, Kim replied, "There's much more I have to show, so as far as performance-wise, there's more to go. I don't want to complain or anything. I'll just do whatever I can."

Kim started out 0-for-23, but has collected eight hits in his last 21 at-bats.

"Struggles are always struggles for anybody," he said. "I'm just going to follow along and face whatever is coming in front of me and try my best to overcome it."

Kim added that spring training hasn't been as difficult as he anticipated.

"I just have to face new pitchers without knowing what kind of pitches they have, just going in, not knowing who they are really," he said. "That's the only thing."

Kim also said that he's still happy that he signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Orioles. What's left unsaid is whether he's done enough to warrant the starting job in left field.

"I haven't thought about it," he said. "(The question) hasn't come along yet."

Manager Buck Showalter didn't say much about the report, calling it "good fodder." He had no real reaction.

"We'll see what the next few days bring," he said. "We've got some tough decisions to make."

Showalter added that Joey Rickard's impressive spring doesn't factor in any decision involving Kim.

Has Showalter's opinion of Kim changed this spring?

"I really didn't have one," he replied. "I came into it kind of formulating, listening to a lot of people coming in here that had an opinion on him, telling me what they thought he would be and what he would not be, and then you try and formulate your own."

Matt Wieters caught Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Zach Britton, Todd Redmond and Chris Lee today in an intrasquad game at Twin Lakes Park. Matusz will pitch again on Tuesday.

Wieters made four throws to second base on stolen base attempts. He threw out two runners attempting to swipe third.

Showalter, after conferring with bench coach John Russell, told reporters that Wieters' times to the bases got progressively better.

Showalter said Wieters could be ready for opening day. He added that Wieters is "planning on it."

The Orioles will make more cuts on Monday.