Brad Bergesen was in Baltimore this month to have his right shoulder looked at by the team's medical staff, but the visit was mostly for precautionary measures, according to both the starter and Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.
"It was more of a preventive-type thing," Bergesen said in a phone interview Wednesday night. "From what I dealt with last year, they wanted to see where I was at. They just wanted to check my strength and see how I was doing, and it's been great so far. Compared with last year, it's just leaps and bounds better than how I felt. Last year, I wasn't even throwing at this point."
Bergesen hurt his shoulder in December 2009 while filming a team-sponsored commercial. The injury delayed his preparation for 2010 and hindered him at times during an up-and-down season. Bergesen went 8-12 with a 4.98 ERA but pitched to a 3.94 ERA after the All-Star break.
"From everything I've been told, he feels better now by light-years than how he felt a year ago," MacPhail said. "I don't have any cause for concern at this point. He just wants to make sure he does everything he can so he doesn't have the ups and downs that he had last year."
Bergesen has thrown about four times since getting his shoulder looked at and said he has felt great. That included his first session from off a mound today at Auburn University. Bergesen and his wife, Shea, live not far from the campus of the recently crowned college football national champions.
"I want to jump-start this thing," Bergesen said. "I've been long-tossing and everything, and I feel good."
Gregg deal official
The Orioles announced Thursday afternoon that reliever Kevin Gregg has passed his physical, making official the two-year, $10 million deal the sides agreed to last week.
Gregg's deal includes a club option for 2013 that will vest if the reliever finishes 50 games during the 2012 season or a combined 100 games between 2011 and 2012. Gregg saved 37 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, and has 121 saves over the past four seasons.
The Orioles — whose Opening Day bullpen will likely feature five pitchers who have recorded double-digit saves in at least one major league season, including incumbent closer Koji Uehara — haven't guaranteed the closer spot to Gregg. However, Gregg, 32, made it clear that he wanted to be the Orioles' closer in a phone interview with The Sun last week.
F. Robinson hospitalized, released
Orioles Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was taken to a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital Thursday because of dizziness and an irregular heartbeat while at baseball's owners meetings.
Robinson, 75, a senior vice president with Major League Baseball, became dizzy during a meeting with owners and general managers, according to MLB spokesman Pat Courtney.
After immediate medical treatment, Robinson indicated he was fine, but was taken to the hospital for more tests. He was later released and returned to the meetings at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern, according to Courtney. Robinson led the Orioles to World Series championships in 1966 and 1970 and appearances in 1969 and 1971.
New FanFest autograph policy
Vouchers for autograph sessions at the Jan. 29 Orioles FanFest will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at orioles.com .
Children ages 4 to 14 will have a specially designated "Kids Only" player autograph station that is free of charge, but the advanced purchase of the $15 vouchers, part of the event's new autograph policy designed to support youth charitable endeavors and reduce wait times, is required for all other autograph stations. All proceeds will benefit children's charities through OriolesREACH.
There will be 250 vouchers available for each autograph session. The list of autograph sessions and participating players and coaches will be posted Friday afternoon on orioles.com.
Robinson, scouts to be honored
Two Orioles scouts and one Orioles Hall of Famer will be honored Saturday by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation at the annual "In the Spirit of the Game" dinner in Los Angeles.
Former Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson will receive the foundation's Player Lifetime Achievement Award, while Orioles scout Fred Uhlman Sr. and former Orioles scout Grover "Deacon" Jones are two of seven men to receive the prestigious Legends in Scouting Award for meritorious service.
Uhlman, a Baltimore resident, has been scouting for the Orioles since 1985 after spending 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He's credited with signing, among others, Gregg Olson, David Segui, Steve Finley and Arthur Rhodes.
Jones, a former big league first baseman, was the Orioles' advance scout for much of the past two decades. Completing his final season with the club in 2010, Jones also has worked for the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres.