Pregame nuggets from Showalter

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

March 22, 2013, 9:15am

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Nick Markakis hit off a tee, threw and ran this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and it went extremely well, according to manager Buck Showalter. Markakis will hit soft toss on Saturday and also run and throw again as he nears a return to the Orioles' lineup. "He's got that grin on his face on his face where you know he's going, 'Why don't we just start playing games?'" Showalter said. Tsuyoshi Wada and T.J. McFarland threw today back in Sarasota. Mark Hendrickson will return to camp on Saturday after leaving the team for the birth of his daughter in York, Pa. University of Southern Maine baseball coach Ed Flaherty, father of Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, won his 800th game last night - making him only the 13th coach in NCAA Division III history to reach that milestone. He's 800-370-4 in 28 seasons. Trayvon Robinson doubled off Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeff Niemann with one out in the top of the first inning and Wilson Betemit drew a two-out walk, but Conor Jackson lined out to third baseman Evan Longoria. It was the true definition of a screaming liner. The Royals released former Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez.