BALTIMORE -- Hyun Soo Kim is officially on the Orioles' roster, and the outfielder said on Sunday, through his interpreter, that he has no feelings either way on the front office trying to persuade him to accept an assignment to Triple-A.
"The management has done what they had to do," said Kim, who was signed to a two-year, $7 million contract this winter that includes the clause that he must agree to a demotion. "There's nothing that I have feelings about that, and I'm going to try to do whatever I have been doing here before, to show the fans and others who have been watching me what I can do."
Kim, who started the spring 0-for-21, didn't play in the final week, and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters that Kim was not going to make the Opening Day roster. But the outfielder refused to go to the Minor Leagues, thus forcing the O's hand since they didn't want to release him and eat his salary.
"It was his option. We asked for his consent because we thought that was the best way to prepare him. He didn't see it that way," Duquette said of Kim going to Triple-A. "The good news is, if he hits like it says he can hit in the book, I think that we have a need for a left-handed hitter on our roster, and hopefully the next part of his hitting will be a stronger sample of what we saw in the spring."

Asked if he considered the idea of going to the Minors to get a little more work in, Kim said: "Not too much."
As for not playing, Kim said he was also OK with that, using the time to learn and watch from the bench. He is not expected to start in left field with Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard winning that spot with a fantastic camp.
"I'm very happy to be on the roster, and I will try my best to make it up to the coaching staff and organization [for giving me] the chance," Kim said.
He figures to get an opportunity at some point as Orioles manager Buck Showalter likes to use the entire 25-man roster. Showalter spoke with Kim again on Sunday and said he felt like the outfielder was in a good place and "ready to go".
"I'm going to use everybody," Showalter said. "And I think he has a chance to contribute. We will figure that out as we go, how that's going to be. The other team will have something to say about that."
Kim also said he didn't think about whether or not he earned his spot.
"I'm just trying to do my best to stay in the team," he said. "I haven't really thought about that."