Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias returned late last night from the draft combine in San Diego with the same group of names on his board, which will be carried into upcoming meetings intended to whittle the list down to one.

The Orioles hold the first overall pick for the second time in four years.

“The combine was a great event. I’m very glad that we have that event now as a league,” Elias said today during a dugout session with the local media.

“Obviously, we are working with a group of five, maybe six, but probably five players at this point. … There’s a lot of information that comes in late leading up to the draft, and so it’s not responsible to pare the list down until you get all that. And also, I think we’re going to have advocates in our scouting department and in our front office for each of those players. So, we’re going to have a nice, lively debate.”

A position player is going to be chosen. No pitchers are deemed worthy of the pick.

Infielder Ramón Urías was scratched from last night’s lineup with discomfort in his left side and is going on the 10-day injured list today with an oblique strain. The move is retroactive to yesterday.

Richie Martin had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and is in Kansas City, where he’s starting at second base and batting ninth. He was slashing .295/.382/.442 with 13 doubles, four triples, one home run, 14 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts over 41 games.

Martin was on the taxi squad for the trip to St. Louis. He hasn’t played for the Orioles since Oct. 3 in Toronto.

The Orioles selected Martin’s contract today, and he fills the open spot on the 40-man roster.

Urías appeared in 49 games and batted .225/.273/.387 with 10 doubles and six home runs in 188 plate appearances. He played 38 games at third base, seven at second base and four at shortstop.

Promotions earned yesterday also felt like a bone tossed.

The huge disappointment over top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez perhaps missing the rest of the 2022 season with a Grade 2 strain of his right lat muscle was followed a day later by the rush that comes from infield prospects Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg advancing to Triple-A Norfolk.

Out with the bad report, in with the good.

Westburg began the season viewed as closer to the majors than Henderson based on his age and Double-A experience. He’s 23 and appeared in 30 games with the Bowie Baysox last summer in his final three-affiliate stop.

Henderson, still 20, appeared in five games with the Baysox last season and went 3-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.

Keegan Akin had no idea that he held an Orioles’ record or that it existed. A visitor to his locker yesterday shared the news.

No Orioles reliever had thrown two or more innings in his first 11 appearances of the season. Akin blew past Jimmy Haynes for the team mark of 10 and has tied Chuck Crim for the major league record of 14 set in 1987.

“I did not know that,” Akin said, making no attempt to impersonate Johnny Carson.

The item is in the game notes, but Akin probably doesn’t peruse them at his locker.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said, smiling. “I didn’t see that.”

NEW YORK – The constant hunt for pitching has led the Orioles to right-hander Chris Vallimont.

Vallimont was claimed off waivers today from the Twins and optioned to Double-A Bowie.

Room was created on the 40-man roster by transferring pitcher Alexander Wells to the 60-day injured list with a Grade 1 UCL strain.

Vallimont, 25, was designated for assignment on Saturday after making seven appearances (six starts) at Double-A Wichita and posting a 9.95 ERA and 2.684 WHIP in 19 innings. He walked 23 batters and struck out 20.

The Marlins drafted Vallimont in the fifth round in 2018 out of Mercyhurst University and traded him a year later. He’s 13-20 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.431 WHIP in 64 minor league games, only two out of the bullpen.

Left-hander Logan Allen has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles made the announcement this afternoon.

Allen was claimed on waivers from the Guardians and made three relief appearances before the Orioles designated him for assignment. He allowed two runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings, with two walks and one strikeout.

Tyler Nevin is starting at first base tonight for the series opener against the Rays. Nevin is 5-for-10 with two RBIs in his last three games.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman and Chris Owings is starting at second in another right-handed lineup.

Tyler Wells is making his eighth major league start. He’s registered a 4.18 ERA and 1.250 WHIP in 28 innings, with only four walks and four home runs allowed.

Tyler Nevin avoided the injured list and says he could play tonight if the Orioles wanted him to come off the bench.

Probably won’t happen, but it’s an option.

Nevin exited last night’s game in the sixth inning with right groin soreness and the club planned to re-evaluate him this afternoon after he arrived at the ballpark.

“I feel better,” he said. “A little bit of soreness, but I’m day-to-day. Nothing I’m too concerned about for the long haul, but it’s something to keep an eye on.”

Good news for a team that’s carrying three reserves on a 26-man roster.

Trey Mancini completed his rounds of batting practice this afternoon, walked back inside the clubhouse and stayed in the lineup.

At least, as the Orioles left the field and the Twins began infield drills.

Manager Brandon Hyde planned on starting Mancini, who missed the past three games with bruised ribs, but there was a final test.

“He feels better,” Hyde said before heading outdoors. “He’s going to take batting practice, which starts here in about 20 minutes, and then we’re going to kind of go from there.

“He wants to be in there, he’s going to give it every effort, like the gamer he is, to try to be in there. But we’re still going to evaluate him after BP.”

Following yesterday’s 101-pitch start from veteran Jordan Lyles, the Orioles rotation is shedding the restrictions imposed due to the lockout and shortened spring training. The label with instructions to handle with care is beginning to peel.

Tyler Wells is part of the group but also on his own. He understands that his switch back to starting after missing two seasons and working last summer in short relief carries its own rules. But he hasn’t relinquished total control over his usage.

Get through innings at a rapid pace and stay longer in games. Silence an opposing lineup and keep the bullpen phone quiet.

Wells retired the first six Twins batters tonight on 13 pitches. He recorded the first two outs in the second on only two. The ball never left the infield.

No one reached base until Luis Arraez, Wells’ friend from their days together in the Twins system, lined a one-out single into left field in the fourth. Wells completed five innings at 62 pitches, 46 for strikes, and allowed one run and four hits with no walks and four strikeouts in the Orioles’ 2-1 loss at Camden Yards.

Trey Mancini said he’s available off the Orioles bench tonight after bruising his ribs Friday night and being in a considerable amount of discomfort.

Mancini slammed into the right field wall after making a catch.

“I’m just trying to gear toward, if they need me in a big spot, I want to be out there and be able to go,” he said. “The last couple days, I was in a lot of pain. The rib bruise is no joke. Luckily, I feel definitely better today, which is really nice.

“I feel like I can definitely be available if they need me in a spot tonight.”

Mancini didn’t want to broadcast the injury when asked Saturday about his exclusion from the lineup. Meanwhile, he wasn’t available the past two games.

The Orioles made their final roster move this morning to get down to the required 26 players, announcing that they designated infielder Kelvin Gutiérrez for assignment.

Gutiérrez joined the team on July 3 after having his contract purchased from the Royals, and he became the regular third baseman over the final month. He batted .248/.327/.336 in 47 games but was 4-for-28 in 12 this season.

The last three lineups didn’t include Gutiérrez, who’s out of minor league options, and manager Brandon Hyde confirmed yesterday that the infielder wasn’t dealing with a health issue.

Chris Owings remains with the Orioles despite a 2-for-18 start with 12 strikeouts. Owings can play just about anywhere, while Gutiérrez is mainly a third baseman on a team that has other choices at the corner.

Gutiérrez committed two errors Sunday at Yankee Stadium in his final start.

The relievers didn’t talk about it. They didn’t call a meeting and discuss the responsibilities inherited when ace starting pitcher John Means underwent surgery on his elbow and was done for the rest of the season.

They just knew.

Means wasn’t around to absorb heavy innings and lessen the burden on the bullpen. Instead, the group would have to do more lifting.

As if it’s been on vacation the first month.

Orioles relievers began yesterday ranking fifth in the majors with 93 2/3 innings pitched and handled the last three innings to close out the series against the Red Sox. They recorded three scoreless innings on Friday and 5 1/3 on Saturday to key a 2-1, 10-inning win over the Red Sox.

Tyler Nevin thought he hit his second major league home run tonight, his fly ball carrying to the fence in center field. Kiké Hernández reached up and made the catch, and Nevin slapped his hands together in frustration as he rounded first base.

Every at-bat is important, but especially with the pending roster changes. Who stays, who goes. How to get down to 26 players on Monday.

The out still impressed. Take it as a win, no matter the result.

Solid contact was scarce against Nathan Eovaldi, who didn’t allow a hit until Cedric Mullins lined a double down the left field line with two outs in the sixth inning. One night after Rich Hill retired the first 12 batters.

Runs weren’t plentiful, either. The Orioles didn’t score until the bottom of the eighth, when Mullins doubled on a fly ball to shallow left-center field and came home on Anthony Santander’s single up the middle to tie the game against reliever Matt Barnes.

Ryan Mountcastle barreled a pitch from Red Sox reliever Hansel Robles in the ninth inning last night, tossed the bat, paused at the plate and realized that he needed to start running.

His leadoff home run broke up the shutout, but it came with a sliver of doubt about where it would land.

No player had cleared the left field wall since the Orioles moved it back and raised the height from seven feet to 13. Boston’s Xander Bogaerts came close earlier in the game, but Austin Hays made the catch at the edge of the warning track.

Mountcastle’s ball traveled 423 feet with an exit velocity of 111.2 mph, the second-hardest hit ball by an Oriole this season. Enough to let him slow the pace as he rounded the bases.

“That’s one of the best balls I’ve ever hit. It went about three rows deep,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a long way out there, but it feels good to finally get one over there.

The Orioles gave everyone a lot to unpack after returning from their 11-day road trip.

We knew that Kyle Bradish was starting his first major league game. The news broke Thursday afternoon.

The corresponding roster move wasn’t as clear. It turned out to be Mike Baumann, who couldn’t sustain the momentum from his 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Brewers, including one hit allowed and credit for the win.

Baumann was charged with five earned runs and six total over his next four appearances covering five innings. He walked five batters, and the Orioles want him pounding the strike zone in Triple-A and operating in a more controlled environment.

Much easier to map out his week in the minors.

Rougned Odor has worked in the type of platoon role anticipated after the Orioles signed him in late November. In the lineup against right-handers, which should put him on the bench again tonight against Red Sox lefty Rich Hill.

Odor entered yesterday’s game batting .150/.255/.200 with six hits in 40 at-bats. He had two doubles and four RBIs and struck out 14 times.

Jameson Taillon got him twice yesterday with strikeouts that closed the first and third innings and stranded three runners in scoring position. Austin Hays doubled twice ahead of him.

Former Oriole Miguel Castro replaced Taillon with two outs in the fifth inning and Odor, batting fifth again in the order, lined a double into right field. Odor reached on an infield single in the seventh inning for his first multi-hit game and added an RBI double in the ninth.

Odor’s last two-double game was Sept. 7, 2019.

NEW YORK – The Orioles are ready to spring Kyle Bradish on major league hitters.

Bradish, 25, will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and start Friday night against the Red Sox, according to a source.

The No. 9 prospect in the system per Baseball America had his start with the Tides bumped from yesterday to Friday, but he won’t stick around for it.

Bradish was acquired from the Angels with pitchers Isaac Mattson, Kyle Brnovich and Zach Peek in the Dylan Bundy trade in December 2019. He followed an impressive spring training by allowing only two earned runs and striking out 17 batters in 15 innings in his three starts with Norfolk.

The Orioles kept Bradish back at extended spring training before he joined the Tides. A gradual buildup of innings has led to his first assignment in the majors.

NEW YORK – Clarity came to the Orioles rotation this afternoon only if TBA counts as a parting of the clouds.

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann made today’s start against the Yankees and exited with four unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a sloppy 10-5 loss that completed the sweep. Who follows this weekend might not be revealed until Friday, and perhaps in daily increments.

Spenser Watkins’ next turn plops him into the series opener versus the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Veteran Jordan Lyles would pitch Sunday. But the Orioles could push back Watkins and use someone else Friday night.

The same night that Kyle Bradish is listed as Triple-A Norfolk’s starter in Gwinnett.

It’s important to stay on your toes while tracking who might be handed the ball.

NEW YORK – The Orioles are trying to avoid being swept today in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2017.

The 10-day road trip wraps up in the Bronx cold with left-hander Bruce Zimmermann on the mound and Ryan Mountcastle still on the bench.

Mountcastle was scratched yesterday with neck stiffness.

Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter, Ryan McKenna is in center field and Trey Mancini is playing first base.

Zimmermann has a 1.20 ERA and 1.133 WHIP in three starts and averages 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He faced the Yankees on April 17 and shut them out over five innings.

NEW YORK – The Orioles aren’t celebrating baseball’s reduction in rosters from 28 players to 26 beginning May 2. They want the extra bodies after a truncated spring training, and with their rotation requiring additional support.

They’re expected to carry 14 pitchers after learning this week that the limit has been raised, but there’s room to be flexible. Don’t get too attached to the math.

There could be a game or series that screams for a fourth bench player, and the club is willing to listen.

“It’s nice that we’re going to at least have the option,” manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday. “I think we’re going to see where we are from a pitching standpoint on that day and throughout the month. Tyler Wells is in our rotation and he’s not pitching that many innings, so it’s kind of, we’re carrying an extra guy there. We’re playing some really good offenses. … We’ll see where we are.

“It’s going to be a series-to-series decision. Hopefully, our starters can get some length and we can possibly keep an extra position player. We just don’t know right now.”