Hyun Soo Kim indicates he's still not going to accept a minors assignment

PHILADELPHIA - The Orioles played their final exhibition game tonight in Philadelphia and some roster decisions remain.

Chief among them: Will outfielder Hyun Soo Kim make the opening day roster? In his first public comments tonight since the Orioles requested that he accept an assignment to the minor leagues, Kim was asked about his status on the team right now.

"Everyone around here are treating me the same way," he said through interpreter Danny Lee. "I still feel I am part of this team and everyone is still very nice to me. Whatever happens to me, I am trying to get ready for every situation where I can be in the game. Every decision was made through discussion with the agents, so whatever she says is the same as my thoughts."

So Kim is backing up his agency statement that he would not accept a minor league assignment. Kim was asked about his confidence level and if a minors assignment could help.

"That one I haven't actually thought about it," he said.

Kim also sidestepped a question about whether he felt he got a fair chance this spring.

"To talk about the actual fairness or any kind of decision that the organization is making, I'm not going to talk about which one is right or which one is wrong," he said. "I'm not going to make any comments. All I want to do is be a good baseball player who gets ready every time whenever for whoever needs me so I can be there to play."

Kim played tonight for the first time since Saturday March 26th in the seventh inning when he was retired on a fly ball. He batted tonight with two on in the ninth of the Orioles' 8-7 win over the Phillies. He reached on a fielder's choice grounder to first where the out was recorded at second base.

Was he expecting to play tonight?

"It's been quite a while," he said. "The feeling was very nice, it has been awhile. It was very special to get an at-bat today. I wasn't really expecting it. I actually felt good about the end of the game.

"All I tried to do was get ready so I could play at anytime. And whenever the skipper asked me to go out and play. Without knowing when to play, I was actually able to see the game, see how others play and was actually able to learn from that. I enjoyed watching and learning."

After the game manager Buck Showalter said the fact Kim played tonight does not mean there has yet been a change and/or resolution to his status.

"No. It's the same situation," Showalter said. "What would change about it? Not that I know of. He didn't tell me. I wasn't told. I really didn't ask a whole lot. We talked a little about it some today. It was an option for me.

"I almost started him tonight. There were some other variables there. But I wanted to wait and see how many at bats (Pedro Alvarez) wanted. I wanted to at least get him one at bat. He's working hard. Regardless of what's going on with his situation, I do have a heart. So you listen to things and you still do what your heart tells you sometimes."

After tonight's 0-for-1, Kim ends spring training batting .178 with no extra-base hits and two RBIs in 45 at-bats. Kim got an estimated 20 more at-bats in minor league games.

Showalter has not confirmed his fifth starter yet. It appears to be down to Vance Worley and Tyler Wilson. Worley gave up one run in two innings tonight and did not return after a 47-minute rain delay that started before the last of the third.

A questioner wondered to Showalter about Worley's status and if he is fighting for a roster spot.

"Who said he is fighting for the last roster spot? You said it," Showalter said. "No, we take in the body of work and you try to make good decisions. There was one more game to play, so we obviously at noon on Sunday have to show those cards. Dan (Duquette) is always working on different things and we'll see what our options are. He's a good one. Good option for us to have. He's presented himself pretty well."

The Orioles also made eight roster moves after tonight's game, which you can read about here.