Grapefruit League action is now in its third week, and the Orioles can’t seem to escape the injury bug once again.
It almost sounds like a broken record over the last couple of years, one that Birdland is overly anxious to get away from.
It’s that time of year where smaller injuries and strains will crop up as the body is transitioning to baseball game ready, but the Orioles seem to take the “go big or go home” mantra a little bit too literal.
Last season, it was the starting rotation that was hit the hardest, but depth helped to straighten the wheel, and the Birds would win 91 games. Though that was 10 less wins than the previous season, that was with losing three-fifths of the starting rotation by mid-season and extended time without Jorge Mateo and Jordan Westburg.
This season, the buzz at camp was electric. The return of All-Star closer Félix Bautista, the addition of set-up man Andrew Kittredge and the international signing of Japanese sensation Tomoyuki Sugano, though 35, coming off his best season for Nippon Professional Baseball.
Reports had Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells trending in the right direction, and outside of Trevor Rogers‘ knee subluxation, the pitching staff was deep, rotation and bullpen-wise.
New additions Tyler O’Niell and Gary Sánchez were showing themselves off as solid replacements for Anthony Santander and James McCann. Sugano and the ageless wonder Charlie Morton weren’t allowing anyone to score. Samuel Basallo was launching home runs that might still be in orbit.
Unfortunately, too much good at once usually leads to a windfall of negative due to arrive when least expected. That windfall came, and it wasn’t just a small one.
The Orioles and most fans knew going into the regular season that Jorge Mateo, recovering from an elbow dislocation and Tommy John Surgery, would start the season on the IL. However, the Birds had the depth to overcome that, as Ramón Urías and Coby Mayo could offer options across the infield.
Gunnar Henderson would develop some soreness in his side, which would come to be diagnosed as an intercostal injury, a strain or tear located in the muscles between the ribs. These muscles are crucial to breathing and chest wall stability.
While Henderson has resumed baseball activities, no timeline has been set for his return. Realistically, with less than two weeks until Opening Day, getting Henderson up to speed that quickly seems a little unreasonable, although it’s still very much in play.
With Henderson at risk of starting the season on the IL, Jackson Holliday has been getting some time at shortstop with Westburg moving over to second base. This has allowed Urías and Mayo to get some time at third base.
The infield has plenty of depth, so having players filling the position is not a problem. Finding someone to provide what Henderson brings to the dish is an entirely different story.
The other big blows for the Orioles came from the pitching side of the ball.
From the bullpen, offseason addition Andrew Kittredge has recently undergone left knee debridement surgery, which will sideline him until late June or early July. Expected to set up for Bautista, that role will now fall to Seranthony Domínguez and Yennier Canó.
Grayson Rodriguez left his last spring start a little off. The eye test saw Rodriguez struggling to hit 93 mph on his fastball, even falling as low as 89 mph. After the game, Rodriguez said he felt like he was fighting himself.
It was reported later that there was some soreness in his triceps area and behind the elbow. To allow a slight sigh of relief, it was announced a few days later that it was not a ligament issue, and Rodriguez would receive a cortisone shot and be shut down for seven to 10 days before throwing resumes.
At this time, that is good news, though the O’s will be without Rodriguez for the first couple weeks of the season. Expected to take a big leap forward this year, Rodriguez will now start the season on the IL, his third visit in less than a year.
Many are wondering what is going on with all the injuries, but if you look across the league, many teams are dealing with the same problem.
While it doesn’t ease the burden, the Orioles fortunately have the depth that allows them to continue moving forward. Though shoes like Rodriguez, Henderson and even Mateo’s are hard to fill, there is enough talent and experience on this team that will allow the Birds to pick up their teammates and carry the team until those players return.
It gives an opportunity for someone else to step up, lead the way and show Birdland that this little hiccup is just that, a hiccup that will bring our top starter, star shortstop and Swiss Army knife back to the team before the first month is over.
What are your thoughts on all the injuries the O’s have dealt with as of late? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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