Opening Day pregame notes on Mateo, Soto, Henderson and Baker

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo had a locker set up this morning in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre that belonged to Livan Soto for yesterday’s workout. The media saw Mateo as he walked into the room before the Orioles headed onto the field for stretching and batting practice.

His arrival in Toronto was confirmed. And he wasn’t here just to visit teammates.

Mateo made the Opening Day roster. He overcame elbow surgery and odds that didn't favor him.

“At the beginning of camp I thought it was doubtful, just because he hadn’t done a whole lot and there was still some rehab left to accomplish,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We got him a lot of at-bats over the last seven-to-10 days, and he played a lot of shortstop, played a lot of second base, stuff people couldn’t see. There was a lot of back field. We had a lot of arms throw to him and Gunnar (Henderson) just to get those guys a lot of at-bats.

“I thought it was getting closer to being an option of him breaking with us a few days ago, and then the last few days he had good at-bats, he played a lot defensively, he recovered really, really well, so we made the decision to have him start with us.”

Mateo underwent surgery in late August to repair his left elbow. The plan for a healthy Mateo was to have him back up at multiple positions in the infield and outfield, but his late appearance in exhibition games nearly forced him onto the injured list.

He never thought that it would happen. Mateo believed that he could get ready.

“Of course,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “I was preparing myself in spring training to try to be here for the first day. I feel really good right now, thank God, and I feel ready to compete, which is the important thing.”

The simulated game action didn’t provide Mateo with many chances to slide and dive, but he was able to practice it.

“I’ve done a couple things in the gym regarding that, and thankfully everything went good for the most part,” he said.

Jackson Holliday is starting at shortstop today and Jordan Westburg is the second baseman, and those are the two positions that Mateo is most likely to occupy. He also could provide the Orioles with an extra right-handed hitting backup in left, center and right.

“I’m available to play infield and outfield, wherever the team needs me,” he said, “so that’s the important thing.”

Mateo’s injury kept him off the Wild Card roster in October, and he could only watch as the Orioles were swept again in the playoffs. He expects to have another opportunity this fall.

“I have great expectations for this team,” he said. “I know we’re gonna get back to the playoffs and hopefully we’ll get to the World Series.”

Soto applauded himself yesterday for being in position to make the club. He expressed pride but also understood that it wasn’t official.

“I gave him a heads up a few days ago that probably not gonna decide the final roster until the last possible second,” Hyde said. “He knew it wasn’t a for-sure thing. But what a spring training he had. Can only say really good things about how professional he is. I think he’s a good player and he’s gonna help us this year.

“Just because you don’t make the team out of camp doesn’t mean you’re not gonna be with the team, be a big part of the team whenever the day comes. So he’s gonna stay ready and I would assume we’ll see him up here at some point.”

Twelve of the current players were on last year’s Opening Day roster, but Henderson isn’t counted among them. However, his strained rib cage muscle has healed and he’s joining Triple-A Norfolk for Friday’s game against the Durham Bulls.

“Now it’s just about getting him in game shape and hopefully he’s with us soon,” Hyde said.

Henderson is on the 10-day injured list and he’s eligible to return on April 3. Grayson Rodriguez, Andrew Kittredge, Trevor Rogers and Chayce McDermott are on the 15-day IL. Kittredge can be moved to the 60-day if the Orioles need a spot on the 40-man roster.

Bryan Baker worked out with the club yesterday and he stayed. The Orioles didn’t acquire another reliever in the final hours before setting their roster. And they were able to keep Matt Bowman, who cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment.

“Bake threw the ball well,” Hyde said. “He was throwing harder than he usually does in spring training, and usually the velo ticks up a little bit, too, as the season goes along. He was throwing 99-99 mph in the second week of camp. I like the changeup adjustment that he made. I thought it was more effective. The breaking balls continued to improve the last few years. I thought he had a pretty good spring training.”