Corporan working extra on the side in backup role

ANAHEIM -- With Jason Castro healthy and taking on a full workload this season, backup catcher Carlos Corporan has only been starting when Lucas Harrell pitches. He'll make only his third start of the season Saturday when Harrell's turn in the rotation comes up.

Corporan, who played a lot in Spring Training, has been going to the bullpen in the fifth or sixth inning to get more work catching and has been doing more conditioning and exercising, as well.

"I'm doing extra work, doing conditioning with relievers to keep my body in shape," he said. "That way, I feel like I've been playing when it's my day to start."

Corporan appeared in 27 games last year for the Astros, making 22 starts at catcher, but spent most of the year in Triple-A. Chris Snyder was Castro's backup last year, but Corporan came up when Castro was on the disabled list in the middle of the season and came up again when rosters expanded.

"In Spring Training I was catching a lot, but now I have to work double," he said. "You get used to it. It's not an easy role, but it is what it is. The more you do it, the better you get."