Orioles notes on Vavra, Means, Rodriguez, Watkins and more

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Orioles infielder Terrin Vavra is making steady progress after being scratched from Saturday’s lineup with discomfort in his left shoulder.

Vavra said this morning that he’d attempt to hit for the first time. He’s been shut down and receiving treatment.

“Feel good, kept getting better,” Vavra said. “Just trying to keep treating it and make sure it’s not an issue down the road. But definitely some improvements and I swing today, so shouldn’t be off the field too much longer.”

Vavra didn’t know how much he’d hit and whether it was just off a tee or in the cage.

“I think we’re just going to see how it goes,” he said. “We’re going to go as far as I can, but also not try to stretch it too far. Should be not too long before I’m back in the lineup.”

John Means threw 20 fastballs yesterday in his first half-mound session and said he “felt great, felt awesome.” Manager Brandon Hyde checked on him this morning.

“Nice to see him get on the mound,” Hyde said. “Feels great today, so that’s really positive. I know for a guy coming off a surgery like that, that’s a huge step for him personally and we’re excited about that.”

Means has been forced to maintain a slow pace throughout his recovery from his Tommy John procedure, marking off the milestones as they come to him. He’s been throwing on flat ground and waiting for clearance to increase his activities.

A half mound provided a full day.

“He’s handled it as well as you possibly can,” Hyde said. “He’s been positive throughout. I know there’s a lot of frustrating days. Probably hard for him last year to watch us have some success and him wanting to be a part of it. Which, he was a part of it, but wanting to be out there and I’m sure that was difficult.

“I think he’s handled it wonderfully. He’s been patient with it. Going through a rehab process for that long is very, very difficult for a player, and I think he’s handled it like a pro.”

Grayson Rodriguez makes his second start today, which pushes him to the three-inning mark if his pitch count allows it. Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Austin Voth, Bruce Zimmermann, Mike Baumann and Cole Irvin have reached it. Drew Rom tossed three innings Thursday on the Camden Yards field.

How a starter looks and how his stuff is playing is more important to Hyde at this point than the numbers.

“You want to see how (Rodriguez) reacts,” Hyde said. “That’s a pretty good lineup he’s facing today, you want to see how his stuff plays. Shapes of his pitches, all those types of things. If he has bad luck innings, that’s part of it, we understand that.”

Spenser Watkins is following Rodriguez again, which also gets him to three innings today. He retired all six batters he faced in Lakeland.

“He worked really hard this offseason,” Hyde said. “What Spenser did for us last year, it needs to be recognized, because he did a great job of filling a rotation spot for us and really keeping us in every game he started. I think that was a huge step for him last year. He’s put himself in the same position this year. He’s battling for a rotation spot and a lot of things can happen in this game, you never know. But he’s staying ready like always. He’s always been a total pro about whatever we’ve asked him to do. He came into camp in great shape and he’s throwing well that first time out.”

Kremer is throwing another bullpen session in Sarasota before leaving in a few days to join Israel for the World Baseball Classic. The other WBC Orioles are gone.

“Just want him to be in front of our guys one more time,” Hyde said. “Always makes you nervous when you have a pitcher going. He’s scheduled for that (March 12) start and we just felt like it was important to get that last session with our pitching guys before he makes that start.”