Surprise, Ariz. ? Byron Embry has spent eight seasons pitching in the minors, the past five years in an independent league.

His bio in the Kansas City Royals’ media guide is 11 lines, one of which is: “Full name is Byron T. Embry.”

Of the 33 pitchers invited to the Royals’ spring training, Embry is probably the least known and has taken the most circuitous route to a big-league camp.

“I was so excited I couldn’t sleep the night before,” Embry said of his first day in camp. “It was like Christmas morning and to wake up and have a lot of presents to open.”

Embry was a Northern League All-Star last season, going 3-3 with a 1.46 earned-run average and 10 saves in 42 appearances with the Lincoln (Neb.) Salt Dogs. He allowed just 37 hits in 551/3 innings, while striking out 90 and walking only 13.

“I’m a late bloomer who just figured out how to pitch,” said Embry, a 28-year-old right-hander.

He had bone spurs removed from his elbow in 2001 and his velocity increased last season.

“The radar gun reached triple digits for the first time,” Embry said.

Embry, who is 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, always had been a hard thrower, but his fastball never had touched 100 miles per hour before last season. He said he dialed that number in Lincoln after a couple days off. He consistently works at 94-97 mph.

General manager Allard Baird said Embry had a good fastball.

“He throws in the mid-90s, which is pretty good if he can throw strikes,” Baird said. “He’s one of the independent league guys, and we’ve had success there before with (pitchers) Nate Field and Jose Lima.”

Orioles

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles reliever Jorge Julio has been sidelined by a strained right forearm, an injury that could force him to miss the regular-season opener and definitely hinders his chances of winning the closer’s job out of spring training.

Julio has inflammation of the flexor muscle and will be placed on a rehabilitative throwing program the next three weeks. The Orioles hope to have the right-hander back on the mound in the middle of their exhibition schedule, although there are no guarantees.

Tigers

Lakeland, Fla. — Detroit Tigers reliever Ugueth Urbina reported to spring training, less than a week after his kidnapped mother was rescued in Venezuela after five months in captivity.

Urbina didn’t speak to reporters upon his arrival, but was expected to today.

Angels

Tempe, Ariz. — AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero took his first swings of spring training, showing his thumb is healed. The Anaheim Angels slugger, who hurt his right thumb playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, lined a series of pitches from hitting coach Mickey Hatcher hard to the opposite field.

Phillies

Clearwater, Fla. — Placido Polanco isn’t happy about being a backup to Chase Utley on the Philadelphia Phillies, and he hopes that he’ll be with another team on opening day.

“It’s a situation I can’t control,” Polanco said before the team’s first full-squad workout.

Cubs

Mesa, Ariz. — Aramis Ramirez said he would like to complete a new contract with the Chicago Cubs before the season began.

“I haven’t heard anything,” Ramirez said.