BOSTON — As the Orioles' bullpen tries to find its way through the first two weeks of the season, a major part of that process is figuring out the role Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia will play among the relief corps.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has said repeatedly that you can't hide a Rule 5 pick in the American League East. Every bullpen spot is critical.
The Orioles love Garcia's upside, but before making the team's Opening Day roster, he had never pitched above low-A ball. He is also adjusting to a full-time bullpen role for the first time in his pro career.
"I think there's a good endgame there," 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 know that 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 … He's been a hitter away from coming in for about three days.
"We like him. We think he's got a chance to pitch up here and stay up here," Showalter added. "I hope we're right. We'll find out very shortly."
Through the season's first 11 games, Garcia has pitched in just two games – allowing one run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings -- and his last outing was on April 10, nine days ago.
"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."
There's no doubt that handling Garcia carefully has put added strain on the rest of the Orioles bullpen, but the team believes that the experience Garcia is surrounded by will help his adjustment.
"You talk about what experience means in a bullpen, everything he's going through, I've gone through," said right-hander Darren O'Day. "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's received valuable advice from his bullpen mates.
"I talked a little to Darren last night and other guys too, even 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."
O'Day said he's confident that Garcia will fit into the club's bullpen dynamic nicely.
"It's just a matter of guys settling into their roles and us figuring things out," O'Day said. "Once that happens you can depend on only having three guys available a day. We need to get Jason out there pitching in games. I know he wants to pitch more and we want to pitch him more. He's going to be good for us. We need to get him out there and then we'll be running on all cylinders. Everything else will fall into line."
Around the horn
There's still no sign of when shortstop J.J. Hardy will go on a minor league rehab assignment. He took Sunday off from rehab exercises and 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 we wanted to get it 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 2.81 ERA 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 hit streak to six games.
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