CLEARWATER, Fla.-- Shortly before the Orioles' 7-5 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday, O's manager Buck Showalter said he had a good feeling about right-handed starter Mike Wright.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Mike today," Showalter said. "Mike's in a really good place."
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Showalter watched Wright give up a two-run home run to the Phillies' Tommy Joseph in the second inning, but overall, the 27-year-old was satisfied with how he threw.
"It's good to get out there," Wright said. "It feels like it's been forever. That's the longest I've ever had between starts, but it's fun to be out there, and it's good that I was throwing strikes."
Wright had gone a week since he started the Orioles' first intrasquad game on Feb. 21. Last year, he was 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA in 18 games (12 starts). Wright didn't make a Major League start after June 17.
Joseph's home run followed an error by second baseman Johnny Giavotella on a ground ball.
"You know, I gave up those two runs, but I threw a lot of good pitches, and I'm really happy with some of the pitches I threw," Wright said. "That pitch, I wish I could have back, but I'm really happy with the progression I've made as far as mindset and going out there and executing pitches."
Wright is competing with fellow righties Logan Verrett and Tyler Wilson and left-hander Vidal Nuno for one of the final spots in the Orioles' bullpen. Each can start and relieve and has Minor League options.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there," Wright said. "After an outing like that, obviously I'm a little upset, but the support I have from the new pitching coaches … everything's positive coming out of their mouth. It's good to have that and look forward to the next start. It's a real positive atmosphere we've got going on here and still a very winning atmosphere, and I think that's the most exciting part."