Gonzalez taking precautions after liner hits shin

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Miguel Gonzalez was moving better on Saturday, one day after getting hit by a line drive on his left shin. Gonzalez said there was still swelling but that the ball didn't do any lasting damage, and he also said that he hopes to get back on the mound at some point next week.

"It's a little sore, but not bad," said Gonzalez. "It could have been worse. No bone, no nothing."

Gonzalez said he's never been hit that hard by a batted ball before, and he admitted that it was a pretty scary experience. The X-rays came back negative, though, and Baltimore's training staff has advised Gonzalez not to run on Saturday for precautionary reasons. After that, he'll be day-to-day.

"I'm going to play catch today and see how it feels. Usually, two days after is the worst," he said. "It's nothing serious. Just get the swelling down. We're treating it. And just go from there."

Manager Buck Showalter said that the Orioles hope to get Gonzalez back on the mound on Tuesday, but the team will make alternate plans if the right-hander is still too sore to pitch. Now, Showalter said, the priority is to make sure Gonzalez doesn't alter his mechanics to protect his shin.

"I think that's why he'll probably take a work-day in between, make sure it's OK," Showalter said. "Other than throwing more pitches, he got hot down in the bullpen. He went out there. He got the more important things, with the exception of getting stretched out a bit. We've got time with that."

Gonzalez worked in 30 games for the Orioles last season, and Showalter said he wants to make sure that he has him available for the long haul of the regular season. Showalter said the Orioles got lucky in avoiding a more serious injury, and he knows the lay of the land can change in an instant.

"We've had two or three, actually four hits on the foot," he said. "It makes you realize from the dugout that you're a pitch away from the dynamics of everything changing. Fragile. We shouldn't be at that point yet where you just want guys to get out of camp healthy. You've got to play the games."