SARASOTA, FLA. — Orioles catcher Matt Wieters – speaking for the first time since manager Buck Showalter said he is unlikely to be recovered in time for Opening Day – expressed disappointment in not making the target date he set when he had Tommy John surgery in June. But the three-time All-Star is focused on making sure once he does return, it's for good.
"It's hard, and it's what – the last five years, been able to be on the Opening Day [roster]," Wieters said. "It's a special date, it's always fun to experience it, but at the same time, I want to be there at the end of the year and I'd much rather be playing for the playoffs as opposed to playing on that Opening Day date.
"Opening Day was always the goal. It was always something that I was shooting for just because throughout the course of a long offseason, you want to have that end goal in sight. I think once I came to terms that probably wasn't going to be the best thing for my arm as well as for the team at that point, it was a little bit easier to sit back and say, 'OK, now let's just let it calm down and when it's ready, it's ready.' "
Wieters said his elbow is feeling better, but won't test it out every day as was the case before.
"The latest is we're still letting it rest," he said. "We're seeing improvement, and it's getting better and feeling better. But at the same time, getting into the mindset where we're not going to test it out every day like we were before. We're going to try to spread it out. Treatment's been going well. We're just going to continue to stay on that path."
Wieters was shut down with elbow tendinitis on the day after catching his first Grapefruit League game on March 17. On Saturday, Showalter said it was unlikely Wieters would make the Opening Day roster, saying his return will now be monitored week-by-week instead of day-by-day.
"I think now that Opening Day has kind of come and gone and passed, it's not a matter of a date," Wieters said. "It's more when it's ready, and I think that's the thing that's probably a little bit easier for me than trying to say, 'OK, we have to be ready by here or we have to be ready by here.'
"I want to be ready as quick as possible and where I feel like once I start playing, I'm going to be able to keep improving and we're not going to have any issues throughout the course of the year, then I'll be confident."
Wieters, who is hitless in 23 Grapefruit League at bats (mostly as a DH), said he would probably play in minor league spring training games instead of Grapefruit League games if he's able play before Opening Day. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 11.
Wieters also echoed Showalter's sentiment that he wouldn't join the major league club to be strictly a designated hitter.
"That's kind of always been whatever Buck feels is best," Wieters said. "I think as far as my rehab, I really wanted to focus on getting the catching right first. Once we get there, then we can sort of look at whether or not DHing's an option. But right now, it's a matter of just making sure I can get back behind the plate and get catching first.
"If Buck ever feels like that's better for the team for me to DH as opposed to just making sure I get back quick catching, then I'll surely do it. But I think the big thing is being able to get back catching first."
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