SARASOTA, Fla. -- It's been a difficult spring training for Logan Ondrusek. Last year, the Orioles signed Ondrusek as a free agent in late July after the 6-foot-8 right-hander left Japan after 1½ seasons there, and he didn't pitch very well.
The Orioles hoped that Ondrusek, who has greater success in his career against left-handed hitters (.244 average) vs. right-handers (.256), would duplicate that, but in his brief time with the Orioles last year, lefties were 6-for-11 (.545). Ondrusek was with Cincinnati from 2010-14.
This spring, Ondrusek, 32, has been slowed by ankle and elbow injuries. On Monday at Detroit, he felt right elbow discomfort, and the Orioles are being cautious with him.
"I didn't think really much of it," Ondrusek says of his elbow pain. "But during the night, it just started getting a little more sore. Came in and had it checked out. Decided better look at it now and find out if there's something going on, instead of waiting around and doing something else and maybe hurt it worse."
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Ondrusek was scheduled for an MRI on his right elbow on Wednesday, the Orioles said.
With just two innings this spring because of the ankle injury and now time off because of the elbow, Ondrusek isn't thrilled.
"I feel snakebitten right now. The ankle was just kind of a fluke deal, just trying to avoid a collision, and then missing time with that, and as soon as I get better … then this happens," Ondrusek said. "It's frustrating right now. I'm trying to get back healthy as soon as I can."
In his time with the Orioles last year, he didn't pitch as well as he could have. "Unfortunately, the impression I left last year wasn't too great, but I've had success before," Ondrusek said. "They've seen me have success before, but at the same time, it [stinks] coming in and being hurt. That's not what I was hoping for or planning for."