Sendy

Rleal

The Orioles demoted Rleal in July after he compiled a 4.50 ERA in 42 innings. He ended up with a 6.65 ERA as a reliever for Ottawa, so he’s not going to get much work in close games.

Rleal emerged as a pretty good relief prospect in 2005, but he struggled for the Orioles last year and then missed the first couple of months of this season with elbow woes. He ended up with a 3.40 ERA in 45 innings for Double-A Bowie. He still should have a future as a middle reliever.

Rleal will be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk once he has a couple of more innings in.

Rleal is a hard thrower who has pitched so well this spring he now appears to be in position to make the roster. He has struck out seven in seven innings while only allowing one run.

With Aaron Rakers gone for the year, Rleal becomes that much more of a sleeper. The 25-year-old probably won’t break camp with the club, but he could emerge as one of the team’s key relievers in the second half.

Rleal’s roster spot is secure. He’s probably not an option in AL-only leagues just yet, but the potential is there for him to become the Orioles’ third-best reliever behind Chris Ray and LaTroy Hawkins.

Rleal pitched pretty well early on and never really had that bad of a stretch. Still, he didn’t earn manager Sam Perlozzo’s condfidence with his 4.50 ERA. 11 of his last 12 appearances came in Orioles losses and the other was in a game they won by seven runs. He’ll be back.

Rleal, who was unlikely to break camp with the Orioles, has been sidelined for over a week with a right elbow injury.

He’ll continue to rest his arm, and it’s unclear whether he’ll start the Triple-A season on time. If healthy, he could earn another look in the Baltimore pen by midseason.

Rleal will be optioned to Triple-A once healthy.