Minor league updates on Machado, Mahoney, Hobgood and more

The Orioles are hopeful that 2010 first-round draft pick Manny Machado will play in extended spring training games in Sarasota, Fla., starting Wednesday or Thursday. Machado has been out since May 5 with a left knee injury. In 25 games with Single-A Delmarva before that, he was hitting .333 with five homers, 21 RBIs and a 1.062 OPS. If he continues to progress he could return to the Delmarva lineup sometime next week. Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, who has been on the disabled list twice this year due to a quad injury, is also expected to play in extended spring games this week. The hope is that he can return to the Bowie lineup sometime next week. Single-A Frederick outfielder Kipp Schutz, who left Sunday's game at Salem when he got hit in the helmet by a pitch in the third inning, is doing fine. He is available to play this afternoon in Frederick's game at Harry Grove Stadium. I have been asked often about Matt Hobgood. He continues to make progress during his throwing program and has not had any setbacks. He is likely to pitch in some games at some point after the Gulf Coast League season starts in late June. It could lead to him moving later in the summer to a full-season affiliate. The bigger plan is for Hobgood to be fully healthy and ready to pitch a full season in 2012. Some other pitchers that could wind up getting some innings for that GCL team include Cameron Coffey, Luis Lebron and Brandon Erbe. Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Parker Bridwell, the O's ninth-round pick from last June, is expected to join Delmarva this weekend and make his next two outings at least, likely starts, for the Shorebirds. He would probably be limited to four or five innings. The 19-year-old Bridwell has been pitching at extended spring training where we've heard he's made solid progress with his changeup. While he will soon be with Delmarva, he could wind up staying there or move later to short-season Single-A Aberdeen to get in around 100 innings or so this season.