Injuries & Moves: Westburg, Urías play 1st rehab games at Triple-A
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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
INF Jordan Westburg (right hand fracture)
Expected return: Late September
Westburg began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 19, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single, a walk and a run scored while playing nine innings at second base vs. Nashville. Manager Brandon Hyde said the 25-year-old All-Star infielder will need multiple rehab games before returning to the big leagues, though the Triple-A season is set to end Sept. 22. General manager Mike Elias has continually expressed optimism that Westburg will rejoin the Orioles later in September.
"We can’t wait to have him back, and we are expecting him back before the end of the regular season. We’re not totally there yet, but it’s going really well," Elias said on Sept. 17.
Westburg, who has been participating in full baseball activities in recent days, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 1, a day after he fractured his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of Baltimore's win over Toronto. (Last updated: Sept. 19)
3B Ramón Urías (right ankle sprain)
Expected return: Late September
Urías began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 19, going 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout in a game vs. Nashville. The 30-year-old played six innings at third base.
Manager Brandon Hyde said Urías will likely need to play multiple rehab games before returning to Baltimore's infield mix. The Triple-A season ends Sept. 22, though Urías could be activated prior to then.
Urías exited the Aug. 31 game at Coors Field in the fifth inning after spraining his ankle and left the ballpark on crutches. He had been leading the O's offense over the two weeks before his injury, hitting .341 with two doubles, one triple, four home runs and 15 RBIs over his previous 15 games. (Last updated: Sept. 19)
INF Ryan Mountcastle (left wrist sprain)
Expected return: Late September
Mountcastle has been at the team's Spring Training facilities in Sarasota, Fla., in recent days, hitting off a tee while continuing to progress. On Sept. 17, general manager Mike Elias expressed optimism that the 27-year-old first baseman was close to beginning a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.
"I do think we have a really good chance of seeing him playing for Norfolk here pretty soon, and I do think we’re going to get him back, and he’s making a push," Elias said. "We definitely will take what we can get from him, and we’re hopeful to get him back before the season’s over.”
Mountcastle exited the Orioles' Aug. 22 game against the Astros with wrist soreness after sliding into second base on a double. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 26 (retroactive to Aug. 23). (Last updated: Sept. 17)
RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right lat/teres strain)
Expected return: Possibly late September
Rodriguez continues to throw routine bullpen sessions, with his latest coming Sept. 17 at Camden Yards. However, the 24-year-old right-hander has still not faced live hitters, and general manager Mike Elias acknowledges time is running low for Rodriguez to get built back up.
"It’s healing. It seems like everything’s really moving in the right direction. Obviously, some days move a little faster than others, but it’s been a real steady course progression. That said, time and the calendar is not exactly our friend here," Elias said on Sept. 17. "We’ll just see. We’re taking it one day at a time, but he is healing and doing really well, and that’s the most important thing.”
Elias did not rule out the possibility of Rodriguez returning as a reliever if there is not time for him to come back as a starter this year. Rodriguez was scratched 10 minutes before his scheduled start on Aug. 6 in Toronto due to discomfort in his right lat/teres region. (Last updated: Sept. 17)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Danny Coulombe (left elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Late September
Coulombe tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings over three rehab appearances for Triple-A Norfolk from Sept. 11-18. The 34-year-old left-hander remained with the Tides on Sept. 19, when he went through his typical pregame routine, and manager Brandon Hyde said the O's would then make a decision regarding a potential next move.
It's possible that Coulombe will return to Baltimore's bullpen during the series vs. Detroit from Sept. 20-22.
Coulombe underwent surgery to have bone chips removed from his left elbow on June 18. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. (Last updated: Sept. 19)
INF Jorge Mateo (left elbow subluxation)
Expected return: 2025
Mateo underwent season-ending left elbow surgery on Aug. 28. The procedure was an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair, and it was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas.
The 29-year-old infielder was placed on the IL on July 25 (retroactive to July 24) after he partially dislocated his elbow when his left arm got tangled with Gunnar Henderson while they both attempted to field a single during the Orioles' July 23 series opener in Miami.
Mateo, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 30, had been wearing a brace on his left arm after the injury was sustained. Manager Brandon Hyde is hopeful that Mateo could be back for the start of the regular season in 2025. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
RHP Félix Bautista (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Spring Training 2025
On Aug. 14, Bautista threw a bullpen session at Camden Yards. It marked the first time the 29-year-old All-Star closer threw off a mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. However, there's still no chance for a return this October, with the O's focused on getting Bautista ready for Spring Training 2025.
"We're ruling out October. We're just going to steer things for next Spring Training and make sure we do everything right to get him ready for 2025," Elias said.
Bautista underwent right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition on Feb. 9 in Dallas. Dr. Keith Meister performed both the Tommy John surgery and the additional procedures. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
RHP Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain)
Expected return: Second half of 2025
Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery on June 19, ending his 2024 season after only eight starts. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, and also included Bradish receiving an internal brace -- the same type of hybrid procedure that Rangers ace Jacob deGrom received in June 2023.
Bradish battled elbow trouble all year. His first right UCL sprain was sustained in January -- when he also received a platelet-rich plasma injection -- and delayed the start of his season until early May. On June 14, Bradish experienced elbow discomfort during a start against the Phillies, exiting that game after five innings.
The Orioles will be without the 27-year-old right-hander -- who finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2023 and had a 2.75 ERA in '24 -- until the second half of the '25 season. Bradish was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 11. (Last updated: July 11)
RHP Tyler Wells (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Wells underwent right UCL repair surgery with internal brace augmentation on June 17 and was transferred to the 60-day IL two days later. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas. Wells did not get a second Tommy John surgery, which he previously had on his right UCL in May 2019.
Throughout May, Wells had been rehabbing at the Orioles' facilities in Sarasota, Fla. He began to play catch late in the month, but he continued to experience discomfort, according to general manager Mike Elias.
Wells didn't bounce back from his April 6 start at Pittsburgh the way he had hoped and said he felt discomfort during his April 12 outing vs. Milwaukee. He was initially placed on the IL on April 16. (Last updated: June 19)
LHP John Means (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Late 2025 or early '26
Means underwent Tommy John surgery on June 3 in Arlington, Texas. The operation was performed by Dr. Keith Meister. It is the second time Means has undergone the procedure, which he previously had in April 2022. He was then transferred to the 60-day IL on June 13.
On May 22, Means experienced discomfort in his left elbow during a start in St. Louis. The Orioles placed him on the IL the next morning, and the lefty flew back to Baltimore for additional testing. He later received a second opinion, which resulted in the decision to end his season.
“I’m going to take it day by day and do the best I can to get back and get it right this time,” Means said. “I still want to pitch, honestly. I’d like to fail on the field before I give it up. I feel like if I go out there I can still pitch.”
Means has made only 10 big league starts since the start of the 2022 season. He made four in September and then missed the postseason due to a flareup in his elbow, which also caused him to open the '24 campaign on the IL. He made only four starts again this season, and is a free agent this winter. More >> (Last updated: June 13)