Mike Costanzo looks perfectly comfortable sitting in catchers' row, which might seem unusual, considering he's not a catcher.

A third baseman by trade, Costanzo was instructed to report with pitchers and catchers after the Astros dealt him to the Orioles in December. That wasn't because the Orioles think he can throw a changeup. They want to see whether he could move behind the plate in an emergency and whether he's suited for a utility-player role that might speed his ascension to the majors.

"They just said, 'What do you think about giving it a try?' And I said, 'I'm ready,' and I ordered my catching gear the next day," Costanzo said.

His locker is stocked with gloves and mitts. And because of where he's sitting, advice isn't far away.

"I've always got this guy," he said, playfully throwing an arm around Ben Davis, the second overall pick in the 1995 draft who's trying to stick around as a backup to Ramon Hernandez.

So what words of wisdom does Davis have for a novice catcher like Costanzo?

"Wear a cup."