Jorge López was the Orioles’ nearer once they began to emerge as a contender final spring, however he wasn’t capable of benefit from the post-rebuild world with Baltimore after his commerce to the Minnesota Twins on the deadline.
That is, till now.
López rejoined the Orioles on Sunday after the membership claimed him off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
López joins a bullpen in want of high-leverage arms, and he may use a change of surroundings after combating the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins this season. The right-hander saved 19 video games with a 1.68 ERA earlier than the Orioles traded him to the Twins final August.
López stated the 2023 season has been a “roller coaster” however that he’s “really pumped” to be again with the group he pitched higher for final season than at any level in his eight-year profession.
“It’s a new opportunity,” he stated. “I’m really glad and grateful to get this job. I’m most excited to go to a team where I [had] success, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
López’s activation got here amid a sequence of roster strikes earlier than Sunday’s sequence finale towards the Arizona Diamondbacks. Reliever Austin Voth was designated for task to make room for López on the 28-man roster.
López first joined the group as a waiver declare three years in the past. He was an ineffective beginning pitcher for the Orioles in 2020 and 2021. In 121 2/3 innings in 2021, he went 3-14 with a 6.07 ERA.
But he was one in every of MLB’s greatest relievers within the first half of 2022 to earn an All-Star Game nomination. Not together with his wonderful 4 months with Baltimore final 12 months, López has a profession 5.96 ERA.
“I became a new guy when I got here,” he stated. “I let myself be open to the biomechanics, sequence pitches. I changed everything, and to be back … I feel like they can help me get through these last couple months really strong.”
Manager Brandon Hyde stated he hopes López’s familiarity with the group — and it with him — will enable the 30-year-old to regulate shortly and get again to the kind of pitcher he was with the Orioles final 12 months. López pitched to a 5.56 ERA with the Twins and Marlins since he was traded final 12 months.
“We really believe in his stuff,” Hyde stated. “For me, he was one of the most dominating relievers that first half last year with what he did. Only had a couple tough appearances in that half. … He seems really excited to be here this morning. Hopefully he can help us this last month.”
If he does return to type with Baltimore, although, he isn’t eligible to pitch within the postseason as a result of he was not within the group earlier than Sept. 1.
Nevertheless, López is simply joyful to be again with a group he braved the rebuild with however didn’t get to benefit from the different facet of till now.
“From two years losing 100 games to now last year getting better and this year much, much better, to be back I’m really excited and grateful to be here again,” he stated.
The “unfortunate part” of the López transfer, Hyde stated, is dropping Voth, who has largely struggled as a reliever this season after excelling as a starter final 12 months. After he was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals final 12 months, he posted a 3.04 ERA with the Orioles in 2022. But in 34 2/3 reduction innings this 12 months, Voth has a 5.19 ERA. He spent a lot of the summer season on the injured listing with elbow discomfort he’s handled since spring coaching. The 31-year-old was out of minor league choices.
“Austin’s done a lot of good things for us here the last couple years,” Hyde stated. “We feel like this move’s important to improve our bullpen. Hopefully he stays in the organization, but to say goodbye to somebody who’s done a lot of really good things for you, it’s never easy.”
Voth is the second reliever to be designated for task in as many days after right-hander Logan Gillaspie was on Saturday to make room for López. Baltimore has an open spot on its 40-man roster.
Hicks reinstated off IL, Cowser optioned
Outfielder Aaron Hicks was reinstated from the 10-day injured listing Sunday after recovering from a decrease again damage, and outfield prospect Colton Cowser was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after spending simply two days again within the majors.
Hicks’ return from the IL is his second previously month, because the 11-year veteran has missed time with strains of his left hamstring and decrease again. The 33-year-old hit .261 with a .795 OPS after signing with Baltimore in late May following his launch by the New York Yankees. He’s performed only one huge league recreation since July 25.
“To be able to give guys a break with a quality major league player out there is important right now,” Hyde stated of Hicks. “He feels good, and he’s ready to go.”
Cowser rejoined the Orioles’ huge league roster on Friday as rosters expanded from 26 to twenty-eight. But the game’s No. 11 prospect, based on Baseball America, may spend the remainder of the 2023 season in Triple-A after struggling on the plate in restricted enjoying time within the majors. The 23-year-old hit .115 with a .433 OPS in 77 plate appearances throughout the 36 video games throughout which he was on the Orioles’ roster.
Around the horn
- Hyde stated the Orioles are nonetheless ready for the “inflammation to go down” in nearer Félix Bautista’s elbow earlier than making a willpower about the best way to deal with the damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. Bautista was positioned on the 15-day IL on Aug. 26. “We’re letting the inflammation die down, and then we’re going to make some decisions after that,” Hyde stated.
- John Means will make his sixth and ultimate minor league rehabilitation begin this week for Triple-A Norfolk, Hyde stated. The left-hander’s rehab task can not lengthen previous Friday. The group has not declared whether or not its former No. 1 starter will return to the rotation or pitch out of the bullpen.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com