Orioles must decide where to start Gausman (O's trail 2-1)

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and scouting director Gary Rajsich joined first-round pick Kevin Gausman at today's press conference in the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Gausman tried on his new Orioles jersey and cap, bending the brim to "break it in." He also wore a smile that lasted from the second he walked into the room until it was time to leave. "We're happy to sign Kevin, and I just want to congratulate Kevin on joining the Orioles and welcome him to the Oriole family," Duquette said. "I also want to congratulate our scouting director Gary Rajsich who, after an exhaustive search across the country, selected Kevin with the No. 4 pick. And I really appreciate all the hard work that went into the selection of Kevin, and I want to wish Kevin a lot of luck on a long and industrious career with the Baltimore Orioles." The Orioles will determine where Gausman pitches and how many innings he logs after he reports to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla. "That's a conversation that we need to have with Kevin because I think he pitched over 125 innings this year for LSU, so we need to have that conversation before we come up with what the plan is, and we'll have that conversation in the next couple days," Duquette said. "Kevin's been pitching straight between some of the national competitions and college and the summer leagues for two years straight, so I think this little rest that he's had, I know it's welcomed by him. But I think it will serve him well as he gets going in pro ball." The Orioles signed 30 of their 40 selections and nine of the first 10. They negotiated with 20th-round pick Ryan Ripken until the deadline, but he wanted to play baseball at the University of South Carolina. They're hoping to get another chance to draft him in three years. Meanwhile, the Tigers loaded the bases against Jason Hammel in the first inning, and Brennan Boesch's two-out, two-run single produced a 2-0 lead. Hammel threw 22 pitches, 14 for strikes. Nick Markakis, who received a nice ovation in his first game since undergoing wrist surgery, grounded back to the mound. J.J. Hardy also grounded out, making him 3-for-41. Update: Gausman received a nice ovation after being introduced to the crowd in the top of the fourth inning. Markakis's first double as a leadoff hitter scored Wilson Betemit, who doubled with one out in the third, and reduced the Tigers' lead to 2-1. Hardy struck out looking to end the inning, making him 3-for-42.