Vespi still expects to be ready for Opening Day

SARASOTA, Fla. – Left-hander Nick Vespi is certain that he can be ready for Opening Day. Nothing in camp has dented his confidence.

Vespi threw off a mound for the first time yesterday since undergoing hernia surgery Jan. 5 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He threw only fastballs, between 20 and 25 of them by his estimation, and was encouraged.

“Everything felt normal,” he said this morning. “I’ve got a couple more and then I’ll be in games.”

Vespi’s next bullpen session is Friday, one day before the Orioles play the Twins in their first exhibition game. They close out the Grapefruit League schedule on March 27.

Plenty of time for Vespi to get ready for Opening Day on the 30^th at Fenway Park.

“Most definitely, yeah,” he said.

“Before I even got surgery, I was far along in my throwing program, so it was just recovering from surgery and then just picking up my throwing from where I left off.”

Vespi will build up the number of pitches in future sessions and work in his other stuff. He’s talked to manager Brandon Hyde and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias about the progression.

“I’ll have enough innings under my belt to make Opening Day,” he said. “If I perform well, we’ll be there.”

Cionel Pérez is the only lefty certain to break camp with the team. Vespi appeared in 25 games with the Orioles as a rookie and went 5-0 with a 4.10 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. Half of his 12 runs allowed came in one-third of an inning in Seattle.

Vespi didn’t surrender a run in 28 2/3 innings with Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles could move DL Hall to the bullpen, but they seem more inclined to keep him starting. Keegan Akin posted a 2.36 ERA and 0.881 WHIP in the first half but faltered in the second and was optioned late in the season. Darwinzon Hernandez is in camp as a non-roster invite. Bruce Zimmermann is competing for a spot in the rotation but could work in long relief.

Hyde hasn’t dismissed Vespi from the competition.

“If there aren’t any setbacks,” Hyde said, “there’s a good chance he would be available to break with the club.”

* Hall of Famer Eddie Murray has been added to the list of guest instructors in camp.

Murray will be in Sarasota from March 8-13.

* Tyler Wells is throwing live batting practice on the stadium field.