FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles' roster on Opening Day isn't expected to stay the same beyond the first 15 days. Once Jay Gibbons returns from his suspension, manager Dave Trembley will have to drop a player. And that small window of opportunity might be Mike Costanzo's best chance to see major league pitching in April.

Trembley indicated yesterday that Costanzo, acquired from the Houston Astros in the Miguel Tejada trade, is more likely to join the lineup at Triple-A Norfolk after spending last season at the Double-A level. He certainly would be hard-pressed to stay past 15 days if the Orioles keep Gibbons.

Costanzo is trying to stick as a utility infielder and emergency catcher. He will have to beat out Scott Moore, who's hitting .556 in 18 at-bats but has been hampered by a lower abdominal strain and bruised right elbow.

Costanzo is hitting .297 with two homers, but he has struck out 12 times in 37 at-bats, including twice in two trips yesterday.

"Costanzo's been impressive in that he's played first and third, he's shown some power, he's caught a couple times," Trembley said. "I think he was a good acquisition. He's one of those guys we're looking at for that 25th spot, but if he doesn't make the club, I can see him hitting in the middle of the lineup at Triple-A.

"He's not quite there with some of these other guys. I think Moore's ahead of him with experience. I think somebody like Costanzo, who we still think is going to get better ... the key thing for him is to play. I would not want to keep him here if he wasn't going to play, and that's not being disrespectful to him. But I also understand the two-week window when Gibbons is not here is going to allow somebody to stay, and then there will have to be a move after that."

The Orioles want Costanzo to play first and third base at Norfolk and also catch "every once in a while," Trembley said.

Patton's surgery a success

Pitcher Troy Patton underwent a successful procedure Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the surgery in Los Angeles. Yocum classified the injury as a "SLAP 2" tear, the most common among pitchers.

Because the rotator cuff was clean, the Orioles expect Patton, 22, to be ready for spring training next year.

"He should be a candidate for a throwing program in instructional league and should be fine to go in spring training, so that's a positive," Trembley said.

Patton, also part of the Tejada trade, originally was a leading candidate to be the team's fifth starter, but he didn't appear in an exhibition game.

Olson elected to O's Hall

Gregg Olson, the Orioles' all-time leader in saves and the first reliever to win the American League's Rookie of the Year award, has been elected to the club's Hall of Fame.

Olson will be inducted before the Aug. 9 game against the Texas Rangers at Camden Yards. In addition, traveling secretary Phil Itzoe, entering his 41st season, will receive the Herb Armstrong Award given to non-uniformed personnel, and "Wild Bill" Hagy will be honored as the first recipient of an award named after him and presented to longtime fans.

In six seasons with the Orioles, Olson was 17-21 with 160 saves and a 2.26 ERA before tearing a ligament in his right elbow in August 1993. A first-round draft pick out of Auburn, he was named Rookie of the Year in 1989 after recording 27 saves in 33 chances and posting a 1.69 ERA in 64 games. Olson pitched for nine teams in 14 years.

Around the horn

Catcher/first baseman Chris Heintz left camp to attend to a family matter. ... Trembley doesn't expect to make any cuts before the weekend.

roch.kubatko@baltsun.com