SARASOTA, Fla. -- Two blue-chippers were among the players reassigned from Orioles camp on Sunday, when the club took its second step toward parsing down its spring roster. Yusniel Diaz and Ryan Mountcastle, the club’s No. 1 and No. 2 prospects per MLB Pipeline, respectively, were both sent to Minor League camp.

The club also optioned DJ Stewart and Luis Ortiz to Triple-A Norfolk, optioned right-hander Dillon Tate to Double-A Bowie and reassigned catcher Martin Cervenka, left-hander Sean Gilmartin and right-hander Bo Schultz to Minor League camp.

Taken in full, the moves provide some clarity to the Orioles’ crowded outfield situation, where Stewart was fighting for a job. They also end productive first impressions on the big league side for Diaz and Mountcastle following strong showings in Grapefruit League play.

The prize of last summer’s Manny Machado trade, Diaz batted .333 with a home run and seven RBIs in Grapefruit League play, while impressing club officials with his athleticism and arm strength in left field. If there was a blight on Diaz’s performance, it was that he didn’t draw a single walk across 14 spring games.

Mountcastle, 22, hit .286 with a home run and a .784 OPS, splitting his defensive reps at the two corner infield spots. Neither Diaz nor Mountcastle were realistic candidates to break camp, and both will likely begin the year at Bowie. 

The same can’t be said for Stewart, who arrived in Florida as one of several players in the mix for the club’s right field job. He struggled, hitting .267 with five doubles and nine strikeouts in 14 games, and was subsequently passed on the depth chart by Joey Rickard, Austin Hays and Anthony Santander. All three have been among the most productive hitters in the Grapefruit League. Newly acquired Dwight Smith Jr. remains in the mix as well.

The Orioles had hoped camp would provide clarity of role for Tate, who has both started and relieved in his career. But he never performed well enough to stretch out, posting a 7.71 ERA in four appearances. Ortiz managed a 14.40 mark across five innings; he’s slated to start at Triple-A.

The Orioles now have 46 players on their spring roster, including right-hander Gregory Infante, who is yet to report.