Orioles outfielder Austin Hays returned to Grapefruit League action Wednesday after over a week on the sidelines dealing with a shoulder injury, an absence that manager Buck Showalter said won't preclude him from competing to make the Opening Day roster.
The more pressing bit of business, however, was getting him through his four at-bats as designated hitter healthy in a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Showalter said that was accomplished.
"Today, he had a good day," Showalter said. "Yesterday [in a simulated game], I thought for the first day back, he was a little stiff.