Center fielder Cedric Mullins will probably rejoin the Orioles on Friday to start their journey out west, supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation.
Mullins is anticipated to play his remaining minor league rehabilitation project recreation Wednesday night time for Double-A Bowie and be activated off the 10-day injured listing Friday earlier than Baltimore’s opening recreation in Seattle towards the Mariners.
Hyde mentioned he’ll “probably” handle Mullins’ workload extra intently contemplating he shall be coming back from his second IL stint with a proper groin pressure. The 28-year-old was additionally positioned on the IL in late May and missed most of June earlier than reinjuring it in mid-July.
“We need him, so I’m going to try to keep him as healthy as I can,” Hyde mentioned.
After Mullins first suffered the harm, it was thought of successful when the group went 11-9 with out him. They did even higher throughout his present absence, going 14-8 and from two video games under the Tampa Bay Rays for first place within the American League East to 2 video games forward of them coming into Wednesday night time’s recreation towards the Houston Astros.
Mullins was the Orioles’ finest hitter by means of the primary two months of the season earlier than his first harm. He struggled upon his return, however Hyde mentioned Mullins simply began to appear like himself earlier than the second harm. He hit his first homer and stole his first base July 14 earlier than reinjuring his groin in the future later.
For the season, Mullins is slashing .259/.347/.454 — good for an .801 OPS that ranks him fourth finest on the group behind Ryan O’Hearn, Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander. In his absence, Ryan McKenna, Colton Cowser and Austin Hays have principally manned heart area with Aaron Hicks additionally on the IL. In current days, Hyde has put shortstop Jorge Mateo in heart area for the speedster’s first begins within the outfield as an Oriole. He made a leaping seize on the wall and likewise missed one within the ninth inning of Tuesday night time’s loss.
Hicks additionally near returning
Mullins isn’t the one outfielder who will quickly rejoin the Orioles.
Hicks mentioned Wednesday that he’ll start his rehab project Thursday with Triple-A Norfolk, taking part in two video games in Jacksonville, Florida, with the aim of being activated Monday for Baltimore’s first recreation in San Diego.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” Hicks mentioned. “I feel like I’m moving around pretty well. Yeah, ready to go.”
Hicks went on the IL about 10 days after Mullins when he suffered a left hamstring pressure when making a diving catch towards the Philadelphia Phillies on July 24. The veteran was signed in late May after flaming out with the New York Yankees to fill in for the injured Mullins. After hitting .188 with a .524 OPS with the Yankees earlier than his launch, Hicks batted .252 with a .784 OPS in 42 video games with the Orioles — the very best the 33-year-old had performed since 2020.
Hicks mentioned the eight to 10 plate appearances he’ll obtain with Norfolk are lots to get him prepared.
“I mean, I went 14 days without it and did pretty good,” Hicks mentioned with fun, referencing his two-week layoff between leaving the Yankees and becoming a member of the Orioles. ” I’ll be able to go.”
Entering Wednesday, the Orioles have gone 8-5 with out Mullins or Hicks.
“They’ve been doing pretty well, scoring a lot of runs,” Hicks mentioned. “This team is very talented, especially with all the young players.”
Hyde excited for Means’ return to mound
Ahead of John Means pitching in a recreation Thursday for the primary time in 15 months, Hyde mentioned he’s “looking forward to tracking him this next month” because the left-hander progresses by means of his rehab project.
Means, who’s coming back from Tommy John elbow reconstruction, is pitching for Bowie in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday.
Hyde mentioned Means will “probably” require near the total 30 days of the rehab project, which may’t lengthen previous Sept. 8.
“We’re going to build him up like you would be in spring training,” Hyde mentioned. “You just kind of never know what it’s going to look like. We’re excited about seeing what John has to offer. Getting him going pitching under the lights again, he’s earned it. He’s put in so much great work in, and we’re proud of him.”
It stays to be seen what position Means can have ought to he return to Baltimore in September. The first season again from Tommy John is usually a difficult one, and the Orioles’ rotation seems full. He might additionally be part of the bullpen in an extended reduction position.
But if Means returns to kind — an All-Star beginning pitcher in 2019 and a pitcher able to throwing a no-hitter, as he did in 2021 — Hyde mentioned it could be a “massive” increase to the Orioles.
“Something close to that would be great,” Hyde mentioned.
Webb joins Orioles’ bullpen
Baltimore didn’t make one other commerce for a reliever eventually week’s deadline, however the bullpen arm the membership added by means of waivers Monday was added to its 26-man roster Wednesday.
Reliever Jacob Webb was activated and right-hander Joey Krehbiel was optioned to Norfolk. Webb, who turns 30 subsequent week, was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, because the Orioles made room for the right-hander by transferring reliever Austin Voth to the 60-day IL.
“I’m very happy,” Webb mentioned of becoming a member of the Orioles. “I mean, going from a fourth-place team to a first-place team is obviously a pretty good scenario. Just trying to come in here and do what I do, try to help the team as best as I can.”
In 108 1/3 reduction innings since 2019, Webb has a 2.91 ERA with 105 strikeouts. In 31 2/3 innings with the Angels this season, Webb posted a 3.98 ERA, battling command with 20 walks.
“I know he has really good stuff,” mentioned Hyde, who added he hasn’t seen Webb pitch but. “I think the walks have been a little bit of the issue, but hopefully he shows command with us with a good arm.”
Webb, who pitched for the World Series-winning Atlanta Braves in 2021, mentioned the potential of pitching within the postseason this season is “very exciting.”
“Anytime you get a chance to pitch in the postseason, it’s obviously what everyone in here is trying to accomplish,” Webb mentioned. “It’s a great feeling. It’s going to be awesome.”
Around the horn
- Third baseman Ramón Urías, who left Tuesday’s recreation with left heel discomfort, mentioned he’s out there off the bench Wednesday and will be capable of begin Thursday.
- The Orioles are adjusting their rotation this weekend in Seattle, pushing right-hander Kyle Bradish again in the future to begin Sunday and leaving Saturday’s recreation with out an introduced starter. Bradish began Sunday towards the New York Mets and together with the day without work Monday, Sunday will present the second-year starter two further days of relaxation.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com