BALTIMORE -- The Orioles got a pair of key position-player reinforcements on Sunday morning. However, the transactions came along with a pair of moves that were a bit surprising.
Baltimore reinstated catcher Adley Rutschman (concussion) and outfielder Dylan Beavers (oblique) from the injured list prior to its 6-4 loss in the series finale vs. Washington at Camden Yards. To make room for those two on the active roster, the O’s optioned infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson to Triple-A Norfolk and designated catcher Sam Huff for assignment.
Beavers went on the 10-day IL on May 13 (retroactive to May 11) with a right oblique strain. The 24-year-old played six games during his rehab assignment (three at Triple-A, three at Double-A Chesapeake) and gives the Orioles another left-handed-hitting outfield option.
Through 33 games, Beavers was hitting .243 with seven doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs and a .700 OPS in his first full MLB season. He returned Sunday and went 0-for-2, though he drew an 11-pitch walk against Nationals starter Zack Littell to open the bottom of the second inning.
Rutschman’s absence was not as long. The 28-year-old catcher was hit in the head by an errant throw on June 18 in Seattle and went on the 7-day concussion IL two days later. The two-time All-Star was hitting .254 with 15 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 40 RBIs and a .787 OPS through 54 games this season, then went 1-for-3 with a single, a walk and a run scored in his return.
"First couple days were tough, but started trending after a couple days," Rutschman said. "I was thankful to be in there today."
Before this incident, Rutschman had never previously had a concussion, he said, so it was a "definitely a different feeling."
"Had a lot of hard hits in high school football and being behind the plate, but nothing quite like that," Rutschman said. "So it was a little different sensation. It was really weird, to be honest. But just glad to be back."
Because Baltimore wanted to carry three catchers on its 26-man roster -- Rutschman, rookie Samuel Basallo and Chadwick Tromp -- there was no longer room for Jackson. The 26-year-old had been on the O’s roster all season, hitting .251 with eight doubles, seven homers, 32 RBIs and a .664 OPS in 66 games.
"He has an option and plays second base -- [Jackson] Holliday is there," manager Craig Albernaz said. "Get him more regular reps in Triple-A. And also, the thought process was to carry the third catcher, with Adley coming back from the concussion list and also with Sammy, too, both of those guys are always in the lineup, so just give us some coverage behind the plate if something happens."
It was also a bit unexpected for the Orioles to keep Tromp over Huff, who had been the team’s third catcher before Rutschman was sidelined. The 28-year-old Huff only went 4-for-23 (.174) in nine games, but he had been praised for his defense and work with the pitching staff.
Tromp made his first appearance with Baltimore this season in Saturday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Nationals. The 31-year-old started and went 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored.