Ondrusek sidelined with ankle injury (plus more notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Logan Ondrusek may not pitch in Wednesday's intrasquad game after rolling his right ankle yesterday during a drill. He's been walking with a limp and continues to receive treatment.

Ondrusek was supposed to be on the same team as starter Wade Miley, Dylan Bundy, Zach Britton, Mychal Givens and Jed Bradley.

Ondrusek, 32, said the injury occurred as he tried to avoid running into a teammate.

"It's a little sore," he said. "It's kind of a fluke little thing. Trying not to have a collision and put on the brakes a little bit and kind of jammed the heel into the ground. There's a little bit of swelling in the ankle and until that goes away and I feel comfortable off the mound and throwing, you've got to kind of take a step back, which is unfortunate, but at least it's early in camp and not right at the end."

The Orioles were running a 'tweener play with pitchers moving to different positions.

"It's a little different than I've always done it," he said. "I'm partially at fault because I'm still learning all the things here, how they go about doing things. I went after a ball probably a little more than I should have or maybe not as hard and next thing I know there's a guy in front of me. I tried to stop and unfortuantely just kind of jammed the ankle a little bit.

"It feels better than it did yesterday. Obviously, we're doing all kinds of stuff to get it right, but you can't really rush that and change something else just to jump back up there. Hopefully, it's just two days or three days and I'm back on the mound and can put all this behind me and be ready to go.

"I don't think I'm throwing off a mound tomorrow unless a miracle happens, but it's up to the doctors and trainers in there to say, 'Hey, this is what we're going to do,' and how I feel. Hopefully, we keep progressing. Like tday was better than yesterday, and hopefully tomorrow is a lot better and just go from there."

Ondrusek has rolled his ankle in the past playing high school sports and missed a day or two.

"It's been a while since I've done it this bad, but it's nothing that I haven't done before," he said. "I'm older now than I used to be, so it's going to take maybe a day or two extra, but we also have to be smart because it's a long season. It's not even March yet. The goal is to be ready for opening day."

The Orioles re-signed Ondrusek to a one-year, $650,000 contract on Dec. 13 with a $1.5 million option for 2018. He had a 9.95 ERA in seven relief appearances last season.

Left-hander T.J. McFarland had some shoulder soreness yesterday, according to manager Buck Showalter, but is feeling better today.

"Just a one-day thing," Showalter said.

Showalter said shortstop J.J. Hardy's back is "much better." Hardy sounded relieved this morning that the back has improved after he was sent for an MRI, CT scan and bone scan.

Chris Tillman did some long-tossing again today and said his shoulder feels better after each session. He added that he feels like he could get hitters out right now.

Infielder Robert Andino left camp today for a family matter. The Orioles summoned Adrian Marin from their minor league complex to provide enough infielders for their morning drills.

Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander hasn't been cleared to bat from the left side after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. He may be used as the designated hitter in intrasquad games.

"He's fine right-handed. He still feels it a little bit left-handed," Showalter said.

"I think it's just unknown because the guy had this and he was theirs. Until we got him and got our arms around him, we didn't know exactly ... We had an idea what we were dealing with, but until you get him in front of you ... I'd say he's about where we hoped he was. He's not behind. He's going to be a player here before this camp is over, for sure.

"I might DH him in the intrasquad games. I was trying to decide. I don't want him hitting right-handed against right-handed pitchers, though."

Hyun Soo Kim told Showalter that he wants to play in both intrasquad games.

"I thought that was kind of revealing," Showalter said. "A lot of things that we knew were going to be a challenge for him that he overcame that aren't this year. I think it bodes well for his potential. I think he's got another level he can go to. "

Showalter said Kim won't travel early just to face left-handers. Kim could be sent to minor league camp and lead off every inning against left-handers in intrasquad games. The Orioles can dictate the matchups.

Christian Walker worked out at first base and in the outfield this morning. David Washington did the same, but Trey Mancini is working out only at first base.

The Orioles went through bunting drills today. Chris Davis kept pushing the ball to the left side, which comes in handy against the shift.

Showalter indicated that catcher Welington Castillo could be used as the designated hitter on occasion this season versus left-handers.

"He'd be one of the guys I'd consider there," Showalter said.

"It's not that big of a deal. You just play a National League game. It's not like the world's coming to an end if you have to take your DH and put him behind the plate. The world might come to an end if you have to put Ryan Flaherty back there. That's the one you don't like. But I don't worry about that that much."

The Orioles have 54 players in camp, the fewest in baseball. Showalter said three teams have 69 players.