After announcing pitcher Jason Hammel would undergo right knee surgery, the Orioles added another to their ever-increasing MASH unit when second baseman Robert Andino left Sunday’s game with a left shoulder injury.
Andino injured himself diving for a grounder to his left in the sixth inning and will remain in Baltimore to undergo an MRI on Monday while the Orioles begin a four-game series in Minnesota. X-rays taken on Sunday were negative, and the Orioles will keep their fingers crossed that Andino’s injury is not serious.
“The trainers are telling me what [the doctors] said and what initially they think, but it’s just pure speculation until they get the pictures back,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I think we’ll be able to make a decision on it by Tuesday and where it could affect some roster things we have to do.”
The Orioles are already without second baseman Brian Roberts, who is on the 15-day disabled list and weighing having surgery on his injured hip that would likely end his season.
Andino remained optimistic following the 4-0 loss to the Tigers that he would only miss a short time and avoid the 15-day disabled list.
“For me, I don’t think I’ll go on the DL,” he said. “It should be like a few days, hopefully. For me to come out of the game, it’s got to be something. X-rays are negative. I have nothing torn, nothing separated. Just waiting for the MRI tomorrow and [I’ll] just go from there.”
With the Orioles having already sent down relief pitcher Steve Johnson to make room for Monday’s starter Chris Tillman and needing to make subsequent moves for pitcher Zach Britton on Tuesday and another starter on Wednesday, it will be difficult keeping Andino on the roster if he has to miss more than a day or two of action.
Ryan Flaherty took Andino’s place at second base on Sunday, and utility player Steve Tolleson would also figure to receive time at at the position in Andino’s absence.
