Matt Wieters' recovery from Tommy John surgery last June seems to be progressing steadily, but there's still no timetable for the All-Star and Gold Glove catcher's return.
Wieters is expected to catch four to five innings Monday in an extended spring training game. He previously caught three innings in an extended spring game in Sarasota, making throws to second and third base on basestealers. Wieters is continuing a throwing program and his throws to second base were timed at 1.9 seconds, which is close to his throwing time before the surgery.
Orioles bench coach John Russell, who is also the catcher's coach, said he's seen videos of Wieters in extended spring training and said he is progressing.
"I've known Matt a long time," Russell said. "I've watched him catch one hitter and I'm good. As far as the stance and receiving, he's Matt. I was anxious to see his throws and his footwork and he's right there. The next step for Matt is just being able to continue on and each day feel the same way and each day just make sure, 'OK, I'm 100 percent ready to go.' I think he's getting over a lot of the mental blocks. … There's that thing always in your mind, 'Am I going to do it again? When you feel something that's a little strange that's normal rehab, normal healing, but as a player, you don't want it to happen again. I think as a player he's getting over a lot of those mental obstacles. He's starting to feel like, 'My arm is my arm again.'"
Monday would be the most time he has spent behind the plate in a game against an opponent since mid-March. Wieters played in one Grapefruit League game on March 17 and was shelved after it with discomfort in his elbow. At that time, the Orioles and Wieters initially hoped he could return by May 1, which is Friday, but that will not happen.
"We'll keep progressing. I talk to [head athletic trainer Richie Bancells] about it a lot because I care about Matt a lot," said Russell. "Will it be three weeks? Will it be four weeks? It's up to Matt and how he continues to progress and if we don't have any setbacks. And — knock on wood — so far, so good."
Russell wouldn't pinpoint a time when he believes Wieters can return, but said he's heading in the right direction.
"You look at the surgery and he's not even 12 months out," Russell said. "I know it's different for position players. The thing about a catcher is there's always the gray areas, because he's got to make more throws than a starting pitcher. … Now it's not max effort, but he's throwing the ball all the time. He makes nine really good throws between innings. He's got however-many stolen base attempts. After a strikeout, he throws the ball around the diamond. So to pinpoint when he'll be back, I can't say. … Hopefully, we get him back before [June], but if I was going to say he'll be back in four weeks, I can't say that. Will he be back in two weeks? I can't say that either."
Memorable debut for Navarro
Rookie infielder Rey Navarro, who made his major-league debut on Friday and started again at second base on Saturday, plucked a box out of his locker that contained seven game-used baseballs inside.
Each of them was authenticated by Major League Baseball with a sticker that will tell Navarro each milestone, but he didn't know which one was from his first major league hit.
Navarro, who had played parts of nine years in the minors before his callup on Friday, doubled and scored a run in his major league debut. Following his fifth-inning double, which came off Boston right-hander Rick Porcello, Navarro said he definitely savored the moment.
"I looked at the sky, I looked at the crowd," Navarro said. [Red Sox second baseman Dustin] Pedroia said right away, 'Hey, congratulations.' When I got to third, [Pablo] Sandoval said, 'Hey congratulations. It was fun. A really good experience."
Navarro was back in the starting lineup on Saturday, playing second base and batting seventh, now knowing what being a major league felt like.
"I wasn't nervous," Navarro said. "My adrenaline was good and I wanted to do a good job, but I wasn't putting any pressure on myself. I told myself I wanted to have fun. I signed to be a professional player in '07, so I've waited a long time to get into the big league. It's kind of different in the big leagues but you have to slow it down and just wait until the ball comes to you and make you play."
Russell steps in
Russell managed the team Saturday night against the Boston Red Sox — for a few innings, anyway.
Manager Buck Showalter's father-in-law, Phil McMahan, died of cancer April 9. The manager and his wife, Angela, were expected to fly back from a memorial service in Nashville, Tenn., at some point Saturday, and Showalter was seen in the dugout by the game's third inning.
Russell has filled in a couple times for Showalter, most recently May 17 at Kansas City, when Showalter's daughter graduated from law school. (The Orioles lost to the Royals, 1-0.)
Before he came to Baltimore, Russell managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2008 to 2010.
Hardy receives cortisone shot, comes to ballpark
Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is on the disabled list with a left shoulder sprain, was in the Orioles dugout for Saturday's game, but there are no plans for him to join the team yet.
Hardy received a cortisone shot in his shoulder Saturday. He will be out for three days, and then will test the shoulder Wednesday.
Hardy had been working out with Triple-A Norfolk for the past few days and had resumed taking live batting practice, but he is still dealing with minor discomfort in his left shoulder while swinging and has not gone on a minor league rehab assignment.
"He's been taking batting practice," Russell said. "I think he still feels just a little bit. I can't go into a lot of detail. I'll let Buck handle more of that. I do know he's making very good progress."
With no minor league affiliates playing at home, the Orioles are considering sending Hardy on the road with Norfolk, which opened a four-game series in Buffalo on Monday.
Around the horn:
IF Ryan Flaherty, who is on the disabled list with a right groin sprain, said he's confident he will be ready to return when he's eligible on May 9. Flaherty said the timetable for his recovery is five to seven days and said he will likely be able to get in some games in at Double-A Bowie before his DL date. … Frederick-based Chef Bryan Voltaggio, who was featured on the reality show "Top Chef," threw out the first pitch before Saturday's game, signed his new book HOME, and prepared a special chili-cheese hot dog with aerated cheddar and scallions along the concourse during the game.
Sun staff writer Dan Connolly contributed to third report