Gentry out indefinitely with hamstring injury

Hays progresses; Castro to pitch Friday; Pedro Álvarez happy to return

SARASOTA, FLA. — Outfielder Craig Gentry has been sidelined with a left hamstring injury that will appear to keep him out of Grapefruit League games indefinitely.

Gentry, who is competing for a right-handed-hitting outfielder spot this spring along with rookie Austin Hays and Joey Rickard, suffered the injury while attempting to make a diving catch in center field in Sunday’s 7-1 road Grapefruit League loss to the Boston RedSox. Hewas removed from the game before the bottom of the fifth inning.

“He came out yesterday,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He told the trainer he felt it tighten a little bit on the ball he dove for in center field and then the last time he ran the bases [he felt] the same thing. So we got him out of there an inning earlier. He’s got some soreness there, so it might be a little while.”

Gentry, who is 1-for-4 with a walk in two Grapefruit League games, is signed to a minor league deal, so he can open the season at Triple-ANorfolk. Hays pleased with injury progress: Hays will make the trip to Port Charlotte to play in today’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He didn’t play in Monday’s home game against the Detroit Tigers and was restricted to DH duty in his only Grapefruit League action Sunday in Fort Myers because of a sore right shoulder muscle on his throwing side, but said it tested out well Monday morning.

“It went really well,’’ he said. “It was a little bit of stiffness, but we did some work on it today and I’m good to go tomorrow. … It’s from throwing, just some tightness in my shoulder, so we’re just being precautious with it, just making sure it’s good to go and it is.” Castro’s spring debutwill beFriday: Orioles right-hander Miguel Castro is scheduled to make his first spring training appearance Friday in a “B” game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

Castro was scratched from his first scheduled Grapefruit League start with patellar tendinitis in both knees and a sore back, and Gabriel Ynoa started in his place Sunday.

Castro entered games as the leading candidate for the team’s No. 5 rotation spot, a competition that includes Mike WrightJr., YnoaandRule5draftpicks Nestor Cortes Jr. and Jose Mesa. Álvarez glad to be back: There isn’t a fit for Pedro Álvarez on the Orioles’ Opening Day roster this spring, but that didn’t stop the veteran slugger from signing with the club for the third straight season.

After remaining unsigned throughout the offseason, Álvarez signed a minor league deal with the Orioles that would pay him $1 million if he makes the big league club and could reach $3 million with performance bonuses.

The deal became official Monday morning, and Álvarez was participating in batting practice and taking grounders at first base before the game. He should get into games within the week, Showalter said.

“Anything is possible, right,” Álvarez said of landing with the Orioles for a third straight season. “Obviously, this is an organization that’s welcomed me with open arms. I have a good rapport with a lot of staff and players here. Obviously, this is a place where, in terms of fit and comfort, from a comfort level, this is definitely a place where I definitely saw myself coming to again.”

Álvarez will likely have to open the season in the minor leagues with Mark Trumbo expected to exclusively fill the designated hitter spot. Also, with the Orioles committed to a platoon in right field — taking two roster spots — as well as carrying outfielder Anthony Santander on the 25-man roster for the first six weeks to fulfill his Rule 5 eligibility, there are no spots on the bench to carry a player who will likely only contribute as a DH.

One of the Orioles’ biggest offseason priorities was adding more left-handed bats to a batting order with just one left-handed starter in Chris Davis. Since then, the Orioles have added several, including outfielder Colby Rasmus.

Still, a left-handedpowerhitter such as Álvarez, who had 26 homers in 138 games for Triple-A Norfolk last year while playing half his games at pitcherfriendly Harbor Park, is an asset the Orioles would like to have. Brugman back in camp: Outfielder Jaycob Brugman was back in Orioles big league camp after clearing waivers and officially being outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

Brugman, who was designated for assignment last week to create 40-man roster space for right-hander Chris Tillman, missed about four days from the team.

“[It was] boring,” Brugman said. “I had to stay in the hotel for the amount of days I was gone. It got a little boring, but I found stuff to do and I managed. … I didn’t think it waswisetoleave. You never know what’s going to happen.”

The Orioles traded for Brugman during the offseason to compete for a left-handed-hitting outfielder position. He was one of the leading candidates for that position going into camp, but since spring training began, the Orioles signed two other lefthanded-hitting outfielders — journeyman Alex Presley and Rasmus. Around the horn: Showalter said he was ready to make the first series of roster cuts — the addition of Álvarez increased the number of players in big league camp to 64 — but still needed to talk to executive vice president Dan Duquette. Players who were just added to the 40-man and players in his first big league camp can’t be reassigned to minor league camp yet, Showalter said. ...Showalter said righthander Jesus Liranzo is ready to get into game action after he was brought along slowly this spring because of a sore right shoulder, the samething that hindered him last season with Triple-A Norfolk.