BALTIMORE -- If Orioles utility man Ryan Flaherty finishes the full 20 days of his injury rehab assignment, he would be eligible to re-join the club on Aug. 15, but manager Buck Showalter is hoping to get Flaherty back sooner than that.
Prior to the Orioles' series finale against the Royals on Wednesday, Flaherty, who is on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to May 21 for right shoulder tendinitis, started at second base for Class A Advanced Frederick. He went 2-for-4 with a walk. In his first seven rehab games, Flaherty is hitting .217 (5-for-23).
"Kind of letting [third-base coach] Bobby [Dickerson] and Ryan, and [trainer] Richie [Bancells], handle [how many more rehab games he should play] right now," Showalter said. "Bobby talks to him before and after every game. He's going to come in here [Thursday]. There's no place to play. I know he's eligible the 15th if you carry out the 20 all the way. I hope it doesn't go to the 15th. I'll find that out."
Flaherty started his assignment with Double-A Bowie, where he split time at second base and designated hitter. After four games with the Baysox, Flaherty moved to Frederick, where, in true utility-man fashion, he has played shortstop, third, first and second base in three games. Showalter, who noted that Flaherty's throwing had improved in Tuesday's game, would also like him to get some time in the outfield.
"I'd like for him to play a day or two out there, too. I'm hoping," Showalter said. "I'd contemplate Ryan anywhere. He can catch, but I'm not comfortable with him catching. He's probably not either."
Worth noting
Mark Trumbo, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday, is hoping to be cleared to play at the conclusion of the team's series against the Angels next Wednesday.
"I'm hoping [to get Trumbo back after 10 days]," Showalter said. "The next question, once we start, is if they feel like he needs to take a couple days of at-bats. We will see. We do not have a Minor League team on the West Coast, obviously, so we've got to make that decision. I know he would rather travel with us and commercially travel to the West Coast."
Like Flaherty, outfielder/first baseman Anthony Santander's rehab assignment at Bowie is also scheduled to end on Aug. 15. He is hitting .625 (10-for-16) in six games. Santander is ranked as the Orioles' No. 9 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.