Dan Connolly

Kim makes O’s roster; Avery sent to minors; three on DL

By Dan Connolly

Posted on April 3, 2016

The Orioles Opening Day roster is set and it includes Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim.

The club announced its 25-man roster this afternoon and outfielder Xavier Avery was reassigned to minor league camp, meaning he’ll go to Triple-A Norfolk. He was signed to a minor league deal this winter, so Avery won’t have to pass through waivers to stick with the organization. That means Kim will have a chance to run down the orange carpet at Camden Yards on Monday.

Avery and Kim were ultimately fighting for the final roster spot. Outfielder Nolan Reimold and reliever Vance Worley weren’t officially aware on Friday that they had made the team – but that was the assumption.

Kim, who signed a two-year, $7 million deal in December, was asked to go to the minors, but according to his contract he could not be sent down without his permission. The 28-year-old did not give his permission despite picking up just eight singles in 45 big league exhibition at-bats (.178 average) this spring. He had just one at-bat in the past week, a ninth-inning groundout on Friday.

As part of their roster management, the Orioles placed three players on the 15-day disabled list: Kevin Gausman (shoulder), Brian Matusz (intercostal strain), and Jimmy Paredes (wrist).

Here is the Opening Day roster:

Pitchers: Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, Zach Britton, Darren O’Day, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens, Dylan Bundy, T.J. McFarland Vance Worley and Tyler Wilson.

Hitters: Matt Wieters, Caleb Joseph, Pedro Alvarez, Chris Davis, Jonathan Schoop, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, Ryan Flaherty, Mark Trumbo, Adam Jones, Joey Rickard, Reimold, Kim.