BALTIMORE -- Make that 12 Orioles players on the injured list as of Sunday afternoon -- with another IL move coming for the club on Monday.
Prior to Baltimore's 6-2 win over San Francisco in the series finale at Camden Yards, outfielder Tyler O'Neill was placed on the 7-day concussion IL, retroactive to Thursday. The 30-year-old missed the first two games against the Giants as the club had said he was "under the weather."
After the game, manager Craig Albernaz announced first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle has a broken fourth metatarsal on his left foot. So the 29-year-old is expected to miss a substantial period of time.
The O's had an injury-plagued 2025 season, using the IL 39 times for 29 players while going 75-87 and finishing in last place in the American League East. Their fortune hasn't been any better during their 8-7 start in '26.
The only positive news to come on the injury front on Sunday was that catcher Adley Rutschman's MRI on his inflamed left ankle was "encouraging," per Albernaz, who indicated his stint on the 10-day IL could be brief.
"Just nip this in the bud, and then, he’ll be good to go," Albernaz said.
For O'Neill, this marks the 18th IL stint of his nine-year MLB career. After signing a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles prior to the 2025 season, he went on to play only 54 games during his first year in Baltimore, going on the IL three times (neck inflammation, left shoulder impingement, right wrist inflammation).
O'Neill has been on the concussion injured list once before -- from April 16-23, 2024, during his lone season with the Red Sox. Through 10 games this season, he was hitting .241 with one home run, four RBIs and a .698 OPS.
Albernaz said O'Neill had been battling an illness throughout the week. Then, on Thursday's off-day, he was "extremely dehydrated," which resulted in him fainting.
"We’re guessing that he probably banged his head a little bit. So that was the touch-and-go aspect of it, because we weren’t sure if it was the dehydration of the illness," Albernaz said. "And as he was getting worked up to play, he just felt dizzy. So, we’ve got to make sure he’s good to go."
As a corresponding move for O'Neill, Baltimore recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez from Triple-A Norfolk. The 26-year-old, who was acquired in a trade with the Guardians on March 29, hit .333 (8-for-24) with one double and two RBIs over eight games for Norfolk, then drew a pinch-hit walk in the seventh on Sunday.
While O'Neill is sidelined, the Orioles are likely to use Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers as the primary outfielders, with Leody Taveras getting occasional starts and Rodríguez serving as depth off the bench.
The O's will fill Mountcastle's spot on the roster prior to Monday's series opener vs. the D-backs. There are numerous possibilities for who could be called up, as he had been struggling to get playing time with Pete Alonso starting nearly every day at first.
One possibility is Baltimore could recall second baseman Jackson Holliday, who began the season on the IL after undergoing right hamate surgery on Feb. 12. The 22-year-old has played 11 Triple-A rehab games, with the final day of his assignment coming Wednesday.
It will depend on whether the Orioles deem Holliday is ready or if he could benefit from a few more games.
At some point, Holliday will become the first player reinstated from the IL by the O's this season. They'll hope the number of players on the injured list will continue to drop, as they aim to get reinforcements without enduring additional losses.
Albernaz again stated his belief in his players to get through this adversity, as they did Saturday and Sunday by winning two games against the Giants despite losing Rutschman, Mountcastle and O'Neill.
"To me, that’s the sign of a resilient group. And in this game, you have to be," Albernaz said. "The season’s too long, there are ups and downs, guys get injured. It’s all part of it. But the good teams can overcome that, and right now, we’re showing signs that we can. And I’d bet on this team a lot."