Prospect Hart assigned essay on Frank Robinson

SARASOTA, Fla. -- With manager Buck Showalter's homework assignment for prospect Josh Hart making national headlines, the young outfielder will get some time at big league camp this spring.

"He's definitely going to be now. So, I can apologize," Showalter said, laughing. "Heck, he might play the whole year."

Hart came over from Minor League camp Monday as an extra guy for Miguel Gonzalez's live bullpen session and became a big name when Showalter told reporters he had assigned the prospect a paper for not knowing who Frank Robinson was. Robinson visited Orioles camp and spoke to the team on a personal invitation from executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, and he was walking with Showalter past Hart before the Orioles skipper decided to test the youngster.

When Hart didn't know who Robinson was, Showalter assigned him a one-page paper on the Hall of Famer, due on his desk the following day.

"I called [director of player development] Brian [Graham] yesterday about something else, I said 'This kid's not ruined for life or embarrassed?' and he said, 'No, he loves it. I just got through talking to him.' He said he didn't realize what a great player [Robinson] was, and he really needed more than one page to get everything on it. And he hopes to get a chance to see Mr. Robinson again one day; said he knew he was somebody famous.

"I actually feel bad now. I do. I got a good feeling we will be talking about something else concerning Josh Hart than that at some point. He's a talented kid."

Hart, a sandwich pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, discussed his report with Showalter on Tuesday night and will bring the actual report the next time he's at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

"That's what I get for telling anybody," Showalter said of the national attention the story received. "You are never too old to learn a lesson."

One prospect who doesn't figure to get any playing time in big league camp is top Draft pick Hunter Harvey, who was selected out of high school last season. Showalter said he may bring Harvey over to see how things are run, but he wants him concentrating on getting ready for the Minor League season.