BALTIMORE -- The number of Orioles players currently on the injured list is 10. But that's actually good news.
As recently as last Friday morning, Baltimore's IL had 13 members. Then, outfielder Tyler O'Neill (concussion) and right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (right shoulder inflammation) were reinstated on Friday, followed by left-handed reliever Keegan Akin (left groin strain) being activated on Saturday.
It's also been less than a week since Adley Rutschman returned from a brief IL stint caused by left ankle inflammation, as he was reinstated last Tuesday in Kansas City. The 28-year-old catcher has already provided a boost, going 7-for-17 (.412) with three home runs and eight RBIs over his first four games back.
Now, the question is when can the O's (13-15 amid an uneven start) expect to get more players back?
Right-hander Zach Eflin (Tommy John surgery) is out for the season, while fellow righties Félix Bautista (right shoulder surgery), Colin Selby (right shoulder inflammation) and Yaramil Hiraldo (right shoulder inflammation) and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (left foot fracture) are not yet nearing returns.
But the other five Orioles players on the injured list appear to be closer. Here's the latest on their status, in order of who's likeliest to be reinstated first.
LHP Dietrich Enns (left foot infection)
Enns, who had a 4.15 ERA in 4 1/3 innings over three relief outings before going on the 15-day IL on April 6, has made four rehab appearances for Triple-A Norfolk. The 34-year-old southpaw could rejoin Baltimore's bullpen during this week's three-game series vs. the Astros at Camden Yards, which begins Tuesday night.
"He had a really strange episode where he had some type of infection. It caused a tremendous amount of inflammation in his foot. That's cleared out," president of baseball operations Mike Elias said this past Friday. "We've got to make sure he's back to himself and sharp and also conditioned to come back and pitch in a Major League bullpen. ... It's more like days than weeks, hopefully."
Left-hander Grant Wolfram (a 4.50 ERA in 12 games) could be the odd reliever out, as he's one of only four pitchers in the O's bullpen with at least one Minor League option remaining. Enns is out of options.
2B Jackson Holliday (right hamate surgery/right wrist soreness/right hand discomfort)
It's been a non-linear recovery for Holliday, who has now twice been pulled off Minor League rehab assignments due to soreness/discomfort. That's fairly common for a player coming off hamate surgery, which the 22-year-old underwent on Feb. 12.
After playing 14 rehab games from March 27-April 21, Holliday spent this past weekend in Baltimore, participating in agility and fielding drills during batting practice. He should begin a new rehab assignment soon, though his expected return to the Orioles' lineup has been pushed back to at least mid-May.
"We've seen these come really quick for some players, and others take a long time to feel like themselves," Elias said. "We want to let him get through this on an individual basis, and we'll be giving him as much time as he needs."
RHP Dean Kremer (right quad strain)
Kremer's IL placement came as a surprise last Thursday, as the 30-year-old right-hander showed no signs of injury during his start in Cleveland five days earlier.
"He was doing his normal conditioning between starts, I believe it was on Monday, and aggravated something, and just as he went through the next few days preparing for the start just realized he may have an injury to his quad," Elias said. "It's obviously not the end of the world, in terms of an injury, but it's going to take some time. Our plan is to try to keep his arm in as good shape as possible, because it's not bothering him too much to throw right now."
Elias added he believes Kremer will be out "several weeks, to say the least." That means he could need a rehab assignment before returning, potentially by sometime in late May.
OF Heston Kjerstad (right hamstring strain)
Kjerstad's hamstring strain was "low grade," Elias said, which is good news. The 27-year-old outfielder is participating in full baseball activities at the Orioles' Spring Training complex in Sarasota, Fla., which includes both hitting and throwing.
"Not ready to announce rehab assignment dates with him, but I feel like it's around the corner," Elias said.
It's possible Kjerstad will be optioned to Triple-A following a rehab assignment -- which could perhaps conclude by late May/early June -- if Baltimore's outfield mix remains as crowded as it currently is (Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Tyler O'Neill, Leody Taveras and Taylor Ward).
INF Jordan Westburg (right UCL sprain)
Westburg, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Feb. 20, continues to hit and throw in Sarasota.
"That's moving along. I don't have major updates on that, but it's kind of no news is good news for now," Elias said. "Not at the point of announcing a rehab assignment, but the train kind of continues to move in the expected direction."
So it doesn't seem likely Westburg could return before June (at the earliest), as the 27-year-old should need a lengthy rehab stint prior to coming back.