BALTIMORE -- Orioles catcher Matt Wieters has recently begun taking pregame work at first base and manager Buck Showalter said Wieters -- who has been brought along slowly as a catcher post-Tommy John surgery -- presents another option in the infield if needed.

Wieters, who returned from the 60-day disabled list on June 5, first took some infield work with third-base coach Bobby Dickerson on Friday. With the recent injury to Steve Pearce, Wieters gives Showalter another first baseman and a way to keep him on the field more consistently for consecutive games.

"It's something we've considered. Also keeps him in the game in case there's a problem with Caleb [Joseph] physically," Showalter said of Wieters, who has no timeline for when he'd be able to resume the bulk of the catching duties. "Although I don't mind DH'ing him."