Koji confirmed

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

April 02, 2010, 8:14am

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The first day of workouts went smoothly. No visa issues, no injuries. Brad Bergesen is the only pitcher who's restricted. Alfredo Simon is full-go, as I wrote earlier today, less than a year after having ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Manager Dave Trembley confirmed what we already suspected: Koji Uehara will work in a relief role this season. "I talked to Koji today before we came out so that if you all asked him questions, he could not evade the answers. And I wanted to make sure we were all understanding that Koji is going to be in the bullpen," Trembley said. "I think it's in his best interests so we can get him through the entire season to pitch out of the bullpen, and I think it gives us more opportunities for him to be successful and for us to win. And he agrees with that. "Koji has been nothing other than tremendous with me. Cooperative, team guy. He wants to win and he'll do what he can to help us win." Trembley disputed a report that second baseman Brian Roberts is dealing with kidney stones. The club has been told that Roberts is bothered by back spasms, but he continues to work out in Arizona and it isn't regarded as anything serious.