Still three weeks away from the season opener in Toronto, the Orioles aren’t dealing with any injuries that warrant pressing the panic button.
But Wednesday wasn’t exactly a day of encouraging developments either.
Sidelined with lower right side discomfort since last Thursday, Gunnar Henderson was diagnosed with a mild intercostal strain as manager Brandon Hyde told reporters he remains “very, very hopeful” the All-Star shortstop will still be ready for Opening Day. That said, it’s the type of injury prone to setbacks without proper rest and treatment, meaning Henderson and the Orioles need to be careful not to rush his return simply for the sake of being ready for the March 27 opener or the first week of a 162-game season that spans six months.
The last thing you want is your best player and a potential MVP candidate to be dealing with lingering effects of this come June or July.
Taking the prognosis and return timetable at face value, you wouldn’t expect the Orioles to mess with the rest of the infield alignment for only a handful of games at most. Jordan Westburg — who was recently dealing with back spasms — is slated to be the regular third baseman while Jackson Holliday is set to play second base, and these are young players trying to master positions they didn’t play extensively in the minors. With backup shortstop Jorge Mateo not expected to be ready for Opening Day as he continues working his way back from last year’s left elbow surgery, Baltimore could turn to someone like defensive-minded infielder Livan Soto — who was acquired from Cincinnati at last year’s trade deadline — to man shortstop in the short term.
If the Orioles would choose to move Westburg or Holliday over to shortstop in the interim, that could open a roster spot for corner infield prospect Coby Mayo or journeyman Emmanuel Rivera.
The prognosis sounds less certain for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, who is dealing with left knee soreness and inflammation and recently underwent an MRI. Hyde told reporters the organization is seeking multiple opinions, which generally isn’t an indicator of good news or a sign of an imminent return. Kittredge turns 35 later this month and signed a one-year, $10 million deal in January.
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Out of minor-league options, right-hander Bryan Baker would be a logical short-term replacement, but an extended absence might warrant an outside addition to augment the bullpen with many noting that the 39-year-old David Robertson remains a free agent and is coming off a quality 2024 campaign with Texas.
Potentially more unsettling than the news on either Henderson or Kittredge was Wednesday’s Grapefruit League start turned in by right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who lasted just 1 1/3 innings and 33 pitches against Minnesota. The 25-year-old’s velocity was down across the board as he also struggled with his command, telling reporters he felt “pretty sluggish” while maintaining he isn’t yet throwing with maximum effort a few weeks before Opening Day. For what it’s worth, Statcast tracked his average fastball at 93.2 mph, down 2.9 mph from last year’s average. His first fastball of his second inning of work was just 89.5 mph while his final one — resulting in a hit by pitch — was clocked at 93.4.
Of course, Rodriguez missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a right lat strain, an injury he also suffered in the minors in 2022. That history prompted him to tweak his mechanics in an effort to put less stress on the lat muscle, and he also told reporters he’s been working on adding a sweeper to his pitch mix. For what it’s worth, at least one prominent physician — who’s performed Tommy John surgery on multiple Baltimore pitchers in recent years — has pointed out the stress that the sweeper puts on the elbow.
Perhaps it was just a bad day for Rodriguez, but understanding how important he is to a starting rotation no longer having Corbin Burnes leading the way, all eyes will certainly be on his next start to make sure all is well.
(Update: On Thursday, Hyde told reporters in Sarasota that Rodriguez is dealing with triceps soreness and is still being evaluated.)
