What's happening in Sarasota?

Orioles director of player development Brian Graham headed down to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota this week to check on a few players who remain at extended spring training.

Closer Zach Britton ranks first if we're listing them in order of importance. Nothing against the others, of course. It's just hard to compete against a guy who was 47-for-47 in save chances last season.

Perfection tends to raise a bar to ridiculous heights.

Britton continues to play catch on flat ground, extending the distance instead of the timeline for his return. No one with the club is offering up the date. I was challenged by one member of the organization to guess it. I blurted out, "Before the All-Star break."

No guts, no glory.

I wasn't given confirmation on my prediction, but I think it's reasonable.

Utility infielder Ryan Flaherty is working his way back from a strained right shoulder that required a platelet-rich plasma injection. Graham might get a better sense of Flaherty's timetable.

Double-A Bowie outfielder Cedric Mullins is close to returning from a hamstring injury. The Orioles need him to play back-to-back games at extended spring before giving him the green light.

This was no ordinary strain. Mullins hasn't played for the Baysox since April 20.

There are a few players who have been working out while under suspensions, including catcher-turned-first baseman Jesus Montero, who signed a minor league deal on Jan. 3.

Montero, 27, was suspended for the first 50 games of 2017 after testing positive for the banned stimulant dimethylbutylamine back in September. His return date is approaching and the Orioles will need to find a spot for him at Triple-A Norfolk.

Montero had appeared in 126 games with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, batting .317/.349/.438 with 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 60 RBIs. He made the International League All-Star team.

Once deemed an elite prospect in the Yankees' system, Montero hasn't played in the majors since appearing in 38 games with the Mariners in 2015 and going 25-for-112 (.223) with six doubles, five home runs and 19 RBIs.

Baseball America rated Montero as the No. 3 prospect in 2011, but he's batted .253/.295/.398 in parts of five major league seasons spanning 226 games and he hasn't caught in three years. He also served a 50-game suspension for his part in the Biogenesis scandal.

Everyone deserves a third chance.

The Orioles also have pitcher Mario Alcantara down in Sarasota. He was suspended 50 games in December for amphetamine use.

Alcantara, 24, went 9-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 32 games with Single-A Salem in the Red Sox organization. He allowed only two home runs in 79 2/3 innings. He's 27-29 with a 4.60 ERA in seven minor league seasons and hasn't pitched above the Double-A level.

The third suspended player is catcher Chris O'Brien, son of former major league catcher Charlie O'Brien. He also had to miss 50 games after testing positive for an amphetamine.

Hunter Harvey, the top pitching prospect who underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on July 28, 2016, threw a 35-pitch bullpen session over the weekend and was slated to face hitters in a simulated game as the next step in his progression. He's expected to pitch for an affiliate late in the summer and perhaps in winter ball.

The Orioles just need to decide on the affiliate. Harvey's never pitched above the low Single-A level, making 17 starts with Delmarva in 2014.

"I'll leave that to Brian and Dan (Duquette)," said manager Buck Showalter. "Probably start him out somewhere down below and let him work his way up. I don't know. We haven't gotten that far yet."