Notes on Sucre and Bleier before today's game

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre hasn't reported to Orioles camp, but his locker is back. Set up in the same spot before his nameplate disappeared and Cael Brockmeyer arrived from Twin Lakes Park.

Sucre has been detained in Venezuela while trying to obtain his work visa. Manager Brandon Hyde's latest update this week included how the paperwork almost was finalized.

The Orioles inked Sucre, 30, to a minor league deal on Feb. 1 and invited him to spring training, the idea to toss him into the catching competition that built to six players. However, he never made it to Sarasota and the Orioles summoned Brockmeyer on Feb. 13 and gave him Sucre's locker.

Brockmeyer, 27, signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in late January after batting a combined .304/.378/.415 in 73 games with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He's now dressing in the auxiliary clubhouse, at least until Sucre shows up, at which point he's likely to head back to Twin Lakes Park.

Sucre can make $850,000 if he's in the majors and his contract reportedly includes a March 22 opt-out. He's trying to earn a job ahead of contenders Chance Sisco, Austin Wynns and non-roster invites Carlos Pérez, Andrew Susac and Martin Cervenka.

Sisco is catching Alex Cobb today in Sarasota and Susac will be behind the plate tonight for John Means' start in Tampa.

Meanwhile, pitcher Gregory Infante was able to leave Venezuela and fly into Miami, where team physicians examined him. An illness, which the club hasn't detailed, kept him out of the United States.

Left-hander Richard Bleier is hopeful that he can convince the Orioles by next weekend that he's ready to pitch in a Grapefruit League game. His recovery from lat surgery in June is right on schedule.

Bleier has twice thrown live batting practice, the most recent consisting of two rounds to simulate innings and allow for multiple ups. He's going to engage in another session on Saturday morning while the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox.

Assuming that he stays on course, Bleier will pitch in a simulated game sometime next week.

"That will just be kind of the same thing, but more with an umpire to build into a game. And then a game next weekend, I think," Bleier said.

"I'm feeling great. Ready to go. They're yelling at me for trying to get in games already, but yeah, everything's feeling pretty good so far."