Diaz and Stewart among latest Orioles camp cuts (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles pared seven players from their spring training roster this afternoon, including outfielders Yusniel Diaz and DJ Stewart.

Pitcher Dillon Tate was optioned to Double-A Bowie while Stewart and pitcher Luis Ortiz were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Diaz, catcher Martin Cervenka and pitchers Sean Gilmartin and Bo Schultz have been reassigned to minor league camp because they aren't on the 40-man roster.

Diaz was one of the camp standouts, going 11-for-33 with three doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 14 games. He's the consensus No. 1 prospect in the organization and the Orioles want to continue his development in the upper levels of the minors with a possible major league debut later this summer.

Stewart was 6-for-26 before going 2-for-4 today with a double and run-scoring single.

Removing Diaz and Stewart whittles down the outfield competition, which still includes Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, Joey Rickard, Anthony Santander, Eric Young Jr. and Dwight Smith Jr. - the latter waiting to make his Orioles debut.

Tate allowed four earned runs (eight total) and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Ortiz arrived in camp 25 pounds lighter, but conditioning wasn't the issue. He made three relief appearances and allowed eight runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Cervenka went 0-for-2 today as Jesús Sucre's replacement and was 2-for-7 this spring, both hits home runs. He committed three errors Saturday in the seventh inning.

Gilmartin, a left-hander who re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league deal, allowed three earned runs (four total) and two hits with five walks in three innings. Schultz gave up six earned runs (seven total) and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings and he hit two batters.

Manager Brandon Hyde's first round of cuts came on March 3 when eight players were optioned or reassigned.

The cuts leave the Orioles with 47 players in camp, not including pitcher Gregory Infante, who still hasn't reported due to an illness. He made it as far as Miami.

Update: Infielder Ryan Mountcastle has also been reassigned. Mountcastle appeared in 15 games this spring, going 8-for-27 with a double and one home run. He collected four RBIs while slashing .296/.367/.444.