Wieters on his rehab and opening day

Orioles pitchers and catchers aren't due to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota for another two months. The first game won't be played until April 6 at Tropicana Field. Matt Wieters has no idea whether he's going to be in the lineup, only that it remains his primary goal.

Wieters started a light throwing program immediately after Thanksgiving and has stayed with it, heading outdoors every other day to play catch with physical therapist Lloyd Van Pamelen in Atlanta. The distance started at 45 feet and increased to 60 almost two weeks ago. One or two more sessions and he'll move back to 90 feet.

"Everything has gone how we thought it would and gone how Richie (Bancells) and Lloyd here told me kind of what to expect," Wieters said. "It's always good when things happen as planned. I've had a lot of good people helping me out. It's been a rehab process so far, but at the same time we haven't had any unexpected things going on, which is always good."

Too bad his rehab doesn't come with a crystal ball. Wieters would know for sure about opening day. He wouldn't sit back and chuckle at all the speculation and the fuss over manager Buck Showalter's comments that Wieters may not be ready, as if the sky had just fallen and knocked down the B&O Warehouse.

"Right now, it's my goal and I want to be ready to start the season on opening day, but at the same time, we're too early to know," Wieters said. "This is not something where we want to set a deadline date where I need to be ready. I don't want to rush it and have a setback.

"I think everybody's end goal is for me to get back healthy and be full go and be ready to go. That's my goal. I want to play as many games as I can and catch as many as I can, but at the same time I need to see what kind of reaction I'm going to have as far as fatigue that we're going to have to push through."

Wieters, who batted .308/.339/.500 in 26 games before undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, hasn't been told whether the Orioles are willing to use him as the designated hitter if he's not cleared to catch.

"That hasn't really been talked about," he said. "I think right now the goal is to get ready to catch. Being a DH and swinging the bat definitely will come earlier, but that will all be Buck's decision if he thinks it's best for the team or not. But my thing is trying to get ready to catch as quickly and safely as possible, to make sure we check everything and don't rush it and try to get through the steps that are required as quickly as possible."

Wieters will show up early in Sarasota to continue the rehab process.

"Warmer weather than early February in Atlanta," he said. "I want to make sure I can finish that throwing program strong down there in warm weather, but I'm playing everything day by day and seeing where it takes me."

Maybe opening day, maybe not.

NOTES: The Orioles have hired Kevin Bradshaw as their minor league infield coordinator, a job he previously held with the TIgers.

Bradshaw replaces Dave Anderson, who was hired as manager at Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels' organization.

I wrote previously that Howie Clark will be field coach at Single-A Delmarva and Paco Figueroa will move up to Double-A Bowie.

New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh turned down a three-year offer to remain with the Rangers as minor league hitting coordinator. That's how badly they wanted him to stay.