SEATTLE -- Before the Orioles began their three-city West Coast road trip through Seattle, Los Angeles and Anaheim, their bullpen received a major boost.
Baltimore reinstated closer Ryan Helsley from the 15-day injured list prior to Tuesday night’s opener vs. the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. The 31-year-old right-hander had been on the IL since May 1 (retroactive to April 29) due to right elbow inflammation.
Right-hander Anthony Nunez was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Helsley.
Last week, Helsley made a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A and impressed in both. He collected three strikeouts while working around a one-out single during a 14-pitch, 12-strike scoreless inning last Thursday. Then, he worked a 1-2-3 frame on Saturday, racking up two more strikeouts while again throwing 14 pitches (nine strikes).
“I’m pain-free, and [the rehab stint] was about making sure I could bounce back and feel kind of like my normal self,” Helsley said. “It’ll probably take a couple of outings to feel like that here in the big leagues. You can't replicate that, but overall I feel really good and I’m just excited to be back up on the team.”
After signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the O’s on Dec. 1, Helsley got off to a strong start in his first season in Baltimore, recording a 2.53 ERA and going 7-for-7 in save opportunities over 12 appearances. He’ll now look to pick up where he left off in late April.
“Getting Helsley back right now, it trickles everyone down,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “Even though the bullpen did an outstanding job navigating these two months, it feels good having Helsley back. His rehab outings were very bullish on what he can bring to the back end of the 'pen, and also now it kind of sets the rest of the guys up into certain pockets of hitters, and also innings as well, so it'll be a nice little trick in that effect for us.”
It was a bit of a surprise that Nunez was optioned, though there weren’t many choices for the Orioles to make once it was deemed that Helsley was ready.
Nunez, who was acquired from the Mets in the Cedric Mullins deal at last year’s Trade Deadline, was a surprise inclusion on Baltimore’s Opening Day roster and quickly worked his way into high-leverage work. The 24-year-old rookie righty had a 1.35 ERA over his first 12 career MLB appearances from March 28-April 6.
But his ERA ballooned to 4.98 ERA over 34 1/3 innings in 32 outings. He had a 7.29 ERA over his past 20 appearances dating back to April 28.
The other three relievers in the O’s bullpen who had remaining Minor League options were righties Yennier Cano and Tyler Wells and lefty Grant Wolfram. Cano and Wells have been pitching well of late, while Wolfram has been the club’s top left-handed relief option.
The Orioles will hope that some time in Triple-A can help Nunez reset and get back on track.