Injuries have (again) been the main story of the Orioles’ season, but the team announced today that he is a lefty. Keegan Akin activated on the 15-day casualty list. Akin’s return comes a day later Andrew Kittredge again Tyler O’Neill both were activated on Friday from the 15-day IL and the seven-day IL, respectively. The right hand Cameron Foster optioned to Triple-A for Akin, while playing in the outfield Jonathan Rodriguez and the right hand Jose Espada Optioned Kittredge and O’Neill to Triple-A yesterday.
Both Akin (groin strain) and Kittredge (shoulder inflammation) spent the rest of the season in the IL, and Kittredge made his season debut yesterday, pitching a 1-2-3 inning out of the bullpen in the Orioles’ 10-3 win over the Red Sox. Originally signed to a one-year, $9MM contract through the 2024-25 season, Kittredge was dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline last summer, but Chicago then traded Kittredge back to Baltimore in early November, and the O’s exercised a $9MM club option for relief services through 2026.
Kittredge and Akin are expected to be the top quality arms in Baltimore’s bullpen, with Akin being the team’s top option in lefty relief. With both Akin no Dietrich Enns don’t work, Grant Wolfram it was only the Orioles who released the southpaw in the last few days.
O’Neill was ruled out after hitting .241/.353/.345 in his first 34 games, and since he didn’t play yesterday, April 8 is the outfielder’s last game. The ever-uncertainty of signs of concussion has led to more than a fortnight’s absence, however O’Neill has hopefully put the matter behind him.
Even with three players back in action, Baltimore’s injured list remains 10 players deep. Dean Kremer was the latest player to be sidelined, as the right-hander was placed on the 15-day IL on Thursday (resuming until April 20) due to a right quad strain. The right hand Brandon Young he was called up from Triple-A on a corresponding move, and Young started Friday’s game in place of Kremer, getting the win while allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings of work.
Young is likely to get an extended run as Baltimore’s fifth starter as Kremer will miss “a few weeks,” as O’s president of baseball operations Mike Elias told MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko and other reporters. Elias said Kremer’s injury came during his prep career, and that “our plan is to try to keep his arm in as good shape as possible because it doesn’t really bother him to throw right now, but we have to let that thing heal and get his lower body back in shape..”
Injuries are another setback in what has already been an unusual season for Kremer, who started the season in Triple-A simply because the Orioles had five first-round picks. Zach EflinTommy John surgery paved the way for Kremer’s return, and the righty posted a 4.09 ERA in two starts and 11 innings before his quad strain appeared.
With Kremer out and Eflin out for the rest of the season, Kade Povich he is now the Orioles’ deep arm should another injury hit the rotation. Albert Suarez again Tyler Wells both ex-starters have been turned into multi-inning relievers, and presumably the pitcher could be extended into at least a sort of piggyback role if more starting relief is needed beyond Povich.
Elias gave updates to Kubatko and company on several other O’s players, including news that Enns (foot infection) appears to be close to returning from the 15-day IL. Heston Kjerstad (hamstring strain) has not played this season, but is participating in full baseball activities and could be close to a minor league rehab assignment.
Concerns were raised earlier this week there Jackson Holiday he was re-examined on his injured right hand, but Elias said the MRI, CT scan, and x-rays all came back clean. Holliday underwent hamstring surgery on February 12 and was expected to return to action in the usual four to eight weeks, but his rehab assignment has now been halted twice due to continued soreness in his right hand.
Holliday discussed his latest setback with reporters yesterday, saying a bad point in a rehab game on Tuesday left him feeling “I broke my hand again. Obviously, it’s kind of about taking a swing and having that kind of pain, but I think it’s rare, but obviously there’s nothing structurally wrong, and I think anytime a muscle rolls over an artery it can cause that..”
The plan is to keep the Holiday closed for another week before restarting the renovation process. The clean exam at least provided some evidence that Holliday’s ongoing hand problems aren’t anything too serious, and Elias described the situation as “all that happens is normal results with a hamate injury….We have seen this come on quickly for some players, and for others it takes a long time to feel like them. So we want to let him go through this individually, and give him as much time as he needs, but we’re eager for him to come back and welcome him with open arms when he’s ready..”
