Orioles unsure about Chris Davis' return

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Orioles first baseman Chris Davis isn't sure when his sore right elbow will allow him to return to Grapefruit League action. He hasn't played the field since Feb. 26 and last made a plate appearance on Friday, going 0-for-3 with a run and a walk.
Davis had an MRI on the elbow on Saturday, and at that point, the team forecasted he would miss 3-to-5 days.
"I feel better today," Davis said. "Obviously, the last couple of days, I haven't done a whole lot. Treat and kind of go through that 'wounded wing' protocol -- whatever you want to refer to it as."
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Neither Davis nor manager Buck Showalter would guess when he'd return to action.
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"It's something that's going to be a day-to-day thing," Davis said. "I felt like I was getting close to being 100 percent the other day and had a little setback. Hopefully not too much longer. I'm getting tired of doing the same thing over and over."
Davis' MRI found nothing alarming, which was reassuring.
"It was something that came out of nowhere," Davis said.
"I've never had any issues with my elbow, really hadn't had any arm problems. Been able to jump into the outfield in the middle of the season, make those throws and not really have any soreness or tightness. That was something that was kind of unfamiliar.
"Anytime you hear MRI, there's a little sense of anxiety that creeps in. After we got the results back, I sat down with [trainer Brian Ebel] and the doc. I felt a lot better. Structurally, everything looks good. It's a matter of taking it slow."

Showalter said that outfielder Austin Hays, the O's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, who's been out with a sore right shoulder would be the designated hitter Wednesday against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.
O's cut seven from spring roster
The Orioles trimmed their roster by seven players on Tuesday, optioning right-handed pitchers Stefan Crichton, Michael Kelly, David Hess and Yefry Ramirez to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning outfielder Jaycob Brugman, left-hander Andrew Faulkner and right-hander Jeff Ferrell to Minor League camp.
Crichton, who had an 8.03 ERA in eight games for the Orioles last season, was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA over three appearances this spring.
Kelly, who signed as a free agent in December, had a 5.40 ERA in two spring games. Ramirez, who was acquired last July from the Yankees, had a 4.50 ERA in one Grapefruit League game. He is ranked as the Orioles' No. 19 prospect. The right-hander had a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts at the Double-A level in 2017.
Brugman was acquired from the Athletics in November and designated for assignment when Chris Tillman was re-signed. He returned to camp after he was outrighted. In 48 games last season for Oakland, Brugman hit .266 with a .688 OPS, three home runs and 12 RBIs. In four Grapefruit League games, Brugman was 1-for-10 at the plate.
Faulkner was acquired from Texas last April and was expected to contend for a left-handed relief role, but he allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings in three Grapefruit League games.
Hess had a 2.45 ERA in two spring outings, including a run allowed on three hits in 1 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 9-8 loss to the Twins.
Ferrell, who took the loss Tuesday, gave up two runs on three hits. He had a 11.25 ERA in four appearances.
The moves leave the Orioles with 53 in camp. They've trimmed 13 players since the signing of infielder Danny Valencia temporarily upped the camp roster to 66.
Up next
Mike Wright Jr. makes his third Grapefruit League start of the spring on Wednesday when the Orioles travel to Charlotte Sports Park to play the Rays at 1:05 p.m. ET. Wright is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his first two starts. Jonathan Schoop and Timothy Beckham are expected to be in the lineup. The action can be followed live on Gameday.