Notes on minicamp and Brian Gonzalez's progress

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the final day of the Orioles' minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. A few more bullpen sessions, maybe a few more meetings between the pitchers and coaches Roger McDowell and Alan Mills, followed by flights back home later in the afternoon.

The Orioles apparently will leave without signing any new players. No surprises like Delmon Young and Alfredo Aceves. Not even a tryout for a former pitcher hoping to land a minor league deal.

This isn't to suggest that the minicamp is a bust. Far from it. Manager Buck Showalter got a closer look at some of the prospects who previously were evaluated on video, and he checked the health of others who eventually could wind up in Baltimore.

The best news involved Branden Kline, who's recovering from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He completed another bullpen session as part of his throwing program and is expected to be ready for the start of the minor league season.

Left-hander Chris Lee is able to long toss and soon will be throwing off a mound after recovering from a lat injury. No one would be surprised to find him on the major league pitching staff later this summer. And he used the time off wisely by bulking up.

Chris Tillman's beard also was a highlight of minicamp. Too bad he can't keep it.

There's nothing happening in the way of a contract extension for Tillman, but talks could begin as the sides settle on terms for 2017 and avoid an arbitration hearing.

Jesus Liranzo will throw a bullpen session today. He's on the 40-man roster now and he has a screw in his right elbow after undergoing a procedure in 2013 to repair an olecranon fracture that forced him to miss all of 2014. Two pretty good reasons to have him in Sarasota.

Left-hander Brian Gonzalez also may throw this morning. The Orioles still were debating it yesterday.

Gonzalez, 21, was a third-round selection in 2014 after the Orioles surrendered their first two picks by signing free agents Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz. He's making noticeable progress, going 10-8 with a 2.50 ERA in 27 starts and 147 2/3 innings at Delmarva.

Consider that Gonzalez made 23 starts with the Shorebirds in 2015 and went 4-9 with a 5.71 ERA in 105 2/3 innings.

Left-handers hit .193 against Gonzalez last season. He was the model of consistency, posting a 2.51 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 13 starts in the first half and a 2.49 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 14 starts after the break.

"It all started with that offseason before last season," he said. "I just took a different mindset, just focused really on the mound. I was focused on getting my body in shape. Just really concentrating on being more over the plate and just going after guys and being more competitive.

"I want to say (2015) was a learning experience. There were good times there and there were obviously bad times. I really try to take it as a learning experience as much as I can, just because I know I can't dwell on it. I just have to move on. I took that mindset and threw that season behind me and said, 'Hey, I've got to do better.' And that was my mindset going into 2016."

Showalter likes Gonzalez's changeup and curveball, and said the lefty throws harder than it may appear. And he's not feeling any pressure to live up to his draft status.

"I think for me it was just going out and competing," he said. "That's what I pride myself on, going after guys. I love to go out there and compete and that's why I play this game, so for me, it was stop worrying about the outcomes, stop worrying about the numbers, all that stuff. If I could just go out there and compete and try to win ballgames for my team, the numbers would line up. So for me, it was just getting back to competing."

Gonzalez is back at minicamp. He also attended two years ago.

"I'm fortunate that they invited me," he said. "To be down there, there's a lot of good pitchers here, so to be in the presence of them, to see how they prepare, see how they throw. It's cool to be around Buck and Roger. It's cool to begin that process early so in the season you know them a little better and they know you and they know what you're about."

The Orioles like what they're learning about him.

Note: Former Orioles left-hander Mark Hendrickson has been hired as pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. All that remains is getting him under contract.

The plan, as I've written, is to move Kennie Steenstra up to Double-A Bowie, Blaine Beatty to Single-A Frederick and Justin Lord to Delmarva.

Hendrickson announced his retirement late in spring training in 2015 after another attempted comeback with the Orioles, who released him a few weeks earlier.

Former major league manager and coach Carlos Tosca will manage the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He replaces Orlando Gomez, who retired.