SARASOTA, FLA. — Matt Wieters admitted that he consciously would think about his surgically repaired throwing elbow during the first few days of spring training, so catching in his first game-like scenario in Sunday's intrasquad game would be a true test.
Coming back from Tommy John surgery in June, Wieters still isn't throwing with any force -- he is expected to be cleared March 17. But Sunday allowed Wieters to begin logging spring innings so that he can be prepared to immediately catch five to seven innings when he is cleared completely.
Wieters caught two innings in the Orioles' scoreless intrasquad game. He also went 0-for-3 at the plate in his first competitive game since last May.
"It was fun," Wieters said. "It's good to get back out there and trying to be as normal as I can behind the plate before being able to throw the ball to second base. …
"Once you get a little bit of adrenaline going and the game gets going, you kind of forget about it. I think every other throw before in spring training, I was thinking about the elbow. And once we got going and playing in a game, I kind of was able to forget about it a little bit."
Wieters still will be able to be a designated hitter in Grapefruit League games, so he can prepare for the season. He is expected to be the starting DH in the Orioles' home opener Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium.
"I'm trying to make sure I can get as many as I can, especially at home," Wieters said. "Sounds like I'm going to go on the road."
Wieters also will take a significant step in his throwing rehabilitation progression Monday when he begins doing catcher movement drills, which will include getting out of the crouch and making throws to the bases. Previously, he was throwing long-toss sessions.
"I think it will be because it will be a quicker motion, a quicker move, as opposed to whenever we were doing the long toss and kind of wind up and get everything into it," Wieters said. "It's got to be a little bit more reactive and instinctual, which is what we're trying to accomplish with this."
Wieters said there weren't any specific exertion specifications, but he said he wanted to be cautious with how hard he threw.
"We'll go by feel," Wieters said. "I got into [an issue] a little bit earlier in the rehab where I wanted to test it … and then you end up pushing it too far and you set yourself back.
"It's a matter of going by feel of getting as much out of it as we can without fatiguing it and risking an injury."
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