Hernandez Says Pain All but Gone

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 17 -- Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle, took batting practice on Tuesday for the first time since spring training. Though Hernandez did not appear to have any setbacks, it is still likely that he won't return until Friday. Hernandez said he hardly feels pain anymore in his oblique.

"So far I've only been doing just tee and two days of soft toss," Hernandez said. "I don't feel much really. I think it doesn't matter because when you start playing you'll feel something. I think I'm almost ready. I've been doing everything, for the most part, throwing, running, playing catch, catching bullpens, and it doesn't bother me for that.

"I think hitting wise, before it gets good, it's going to bother me a little bit, something very minimal. It's always going to go away when you start swinging, but that helps you get stronger. I think it's going to be my first day of BP. I'm nervous, too. Let's see how it goes."

Payton Heads to Norfolk

Orioles outfielder Jay Payton, on the DL with a strained left hamstring, played six innings in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, Fla., and will play the next two days in a rehabilitation stint with Class AAA Norfolk.

Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said it's not a certainty that Payton will become the regular left fielder once he returns from the DL.

"He is a left fielder and he is a center fielder," Perlozzo said when asked if Payton was the team's left fielder. "We'll see how he is. We want to make sure that he is good. He's going to be a little bit behind." . . .

Baltimore will honor Jackie Robinson on Saturday after celebrations scheduled for this past Sunday were canceled because of a rainout.

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