FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It lasted only three pitches, but Aubrey Huff described it as the most nerve-racking spring training at-bat of his career.
"It was surprising," Huff said. "My timing felt pretty good. I actually saw the ball well and everything just felt nice and relaxed and comfortable after the first pitch. It felt good just getting back out there."
Huff, who had surgery to repair a sports hernia in January, made his spring debut in the Orioles' 2-1 loss to the Florida Marlins yesterday at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. As the team's designated hitter, he went 0-for-2, flying out to center field in the second inning and lining out to right field in the fourth.
"It was probably the first time I've felt pretty good on my first day at spring training," Huff said. "I don't think I've ever pulled two balls in spring training in the first game in my career. Everything usually goes to left. I'm behind everything."
Orioles manager Dave Trembley is expected to play Huff at first base Saturday, presenting the veteran with another test. Huff, who has been taking live batting practice and participating in simulated games, did a sliding drill yesterday, the last step before getting medical clearance to play in games.
Huff, a notoriously slow starter, thinks the situation might even play to his advantage.
"That's the idea, I hope," he said. "With these slow starts, it seems like I start earlier and earlier in the offseason with my hitting and no matter what I do it just doesn't help. So hopefully this might. I didn't even pick up a bat until spring training started. So hopefully it allowed my body to relax. ... This is as good as I felt on any first day I've ever had. Whether I got a hit or not, I felt good out there."
Injuries, illnesses building
Injuries and illnesses have taken a toll in the Orioles' clubhouse and started to affect some of the position battles in camp.
Freddie Bynum, battling for the starting shortstop spot or a utility role, hasn't been cleared to play after having a magnetic resonance imaging of his right knee Tuesday. The club is optimistic but doesn't expect to get the results back until today.
Utility man Scott Moore, who has put himself in good position to win a roster spot with a .571 average this spring, suffered a mild abdominal strain Monday. Trembley said he's "day-to-day."
Outfielders Jay Payton and Chris Roberson also remained home battling illnesses. Payton, who has bronchitis, has just two spring at-bats. Roberson is competing for a reserve outfield role.
"It hasn't been a hindrance, but ... it's allowed a lot of the guys to play more than I wanted," said Trembley, who named several players and coaches battling flu-like symptoms. "Not the frontline guys, we've balanced that pretty well. But the backup guys have played a lot. I think we have to be careful there. It's really early in the camp and we don't want to push those guys."
Minor leaguers Blake Davis, Jonathan Tucker and Sebastien Boucher will join the club today in Fort Myers and stay in major league spring training camp for about a week to give Trembley more options.
Around the horn
Camp instructor B.J. Surhoff coached first base in place of John Shelby, who was home sick. Hitting coach Terry Crowley returned after battling an illness the past couple of days. ... Pitcher Troy Patton had an arthrogram taken on his left shoulder yesterday and could decide on whether to have surgery as early as today. ... The Orioles will make their first round of cuts after today's game or tomorrow.
jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com