Garcia being brought along slowly in ’pen
Rule 5 pick says fellow relievers are helping him adjust to big leagues
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BOSTON — As their bullpen has tried to find its way through the first two weeks of the season, the Orioles also have tried to figure out the role Rule 5 draft pick Jason Garcia will play in it.
The Orioles love Garcia’s upside, but before making the team’s Opening Day roster, the 22-year-old never had pitched above Low-A. He also is adjusting to a full-time bullpen role for the first time in his career.
“I think there’s a good endgame there,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Until he gets comfortable, and the team always comes first, we’re going to find out where he can consistently contribute. We’re not going to knowthat until about June or July, when you get some things under your belt, but we’re fortunate now with the off days and some other things. We like him. We think he’s got a chance to pitch up here and stay up here.”
Through the season’s first 12 games, Garcia has pitched just twice, allowing one run on two hits over 22⁄ innings. His last outing was on April 10.
“I’m not trying to stress too much about it, being new here and still learning my role in the bullpen and transitioning from a starter to a reliever,” Garcia said. “It’s still early in the year. It’s 162 games, so I’m trying not to stress about it. When they call my name, I’ll be ready.”
Garcia’s careful handling has put greater pressure on the rest of the bullpen, which allowed runs in each of the Orioles’ first 10 games. But the team believes Garcia’s time in the majors will help his adjustment.
“You talk about what experience means in a bullpen — everything he’s going through, I’ve gone through,” right-hander Darren O’Day said. “I didn’t pitch for a whole paycheck during my rookie year, so 14 days, I know what it’s like. But the only thing you can do is be ready for your opportunity and take advantage of it when it presents itself. He’s chomping at the bit. He wants to get out there. He’ll get his chance.”
Garcia said he has received valuable advice from his fellow relievers.
“I talked a little to Darren last night and other guys too, even [ Kevin] Gausman, and they all tell me, ‘Listen, hang in there. You’ll get your time,’ ” Garcia said. “I try not to let it show or not let it bother me. I try to take every day like I’m going to get in there.”
Paredes’ quick contributions
Just two games into his time with the Orioles, Jimmy Paredes has made an impact.
Paredes, who was activated off the disabled list Saturday to fill injured second baseman Jonathan Schoop’s roster spot, had three hits and scored three runs in the Orioles’ 8-3 win Sunday over the Boston Red Sox and is 5-for-10 in two games.
“Yeah, where’s he been at?” center fielder Adam Jones said. “He comes in raking, swinging the bat well. I told him: ‘Be aggressive. You get a fastball, hit it.’ ”
It appeared the Orioles would have a tough time finding a roster spot for Paredes, but they activated the switch-hitting third baseman-outfielder just one game into his minor league rehabilitation assignment after Schoop went down with a right knee injury.
Paredes was about to fly to Triple-ANorfolk before the Orioles told him he was coming to Boston. His flight from Baltimore was delayed nearly three hours Saturday, but he made it to Fenway Park just in time for batting practice and to see his name in the starting lineup. He was 2-for-5 in the Orioles’ 4-1 win.
“That was awesome,” Paredes said. “It feels so great because I’m back in the games. When you’re at rehab, your mind goes crazy. You’re thinking, ‘I want to be back in the games soon and be in the season.’ Now I’m back and ready to go and do the same thing I did in spring training. I’m not going to change anything. I feel healthy.”
On Thursday, when Paredes met with Showalter to discuss his rehab assignment, he had just one question for his manager: Would he have made the team had he not gotten hurt? Paredes never had made an Opening Day roster in his career but was the Orioles’ best hitter in spring training, batting .340 with 10 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.
“This year, I felt like I did the job,” Paredes said with a smile. “I wanted to hear from the staff, ‘You made the team.’ That was a good feeling. It’s important for me. I was able to tell my family. They waited, too, for that. They wanted to hear that. They wanted to hear that every spring training: ‘Tell me you made the team.’ I could tell them I made [the] team.”
Schoop reports to Sarasota
Schoop flew out of Boston on Sunday morning to report to the team’s spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla., where he will rehab.
Schoop was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 partial posterior cruciate ligament tear and a medial collateral ligament sprain.
The Orioles haven’t offered a timetable for Schoop’s return, but his injury typically requires about six to eight weeks of recovery. The Orioles are optimistic that he can return in two to four weeks because Schoop has strong legs and is only 23.
Around the horn
There’s still no sign of whenshortstop J.J. Hardy will go on a minor league rehab assignment. HetookSundayofffromrehabexercisesand live hitting but did some tee work and took ground balls. “I don’t think there’s any issue,” Showalter said. “Slowly but surely. … You knew it wasn’t going to be real quick, but wewantedtogetit right the first time. I just hope that it’s not something that lingers, but if it does, we’ll wait on it.” … Orioles starting pitchers are 3-0 with a 2.81ERA and have held opponents to a .205 batting average over the past six games. … Shortstop Everth Cabrera extended his hitting streak to six games and has hit safely in nine of 10 games. … Second baseman Ryan Flaherty, who was 2-for-4 with his second homer of the season Sunday, is 20-for-50 (.400) in his past 13 games at Fenway Park. … Catcher Caleb Joseph extended his hitting streak to six games.