Injuries & Moves: O's add López, Hicks; Voth DFA'd
LATEST NEWS
Sept. 3: RHP Jorge López activated; RHP Austin Voth designated for assignment
López joined the Orioles a day after he was claimed off waivers from the Marlins. The 30-year-old right-hander, who previously pitched for Baltimore from 2020-22, was excited to be back with his former club and is ready to pitch in any role out of the bullpen.
"To be back, I'm real excited," López said. "I'm really grateful to be here again."
Voth, who had a 5.19 ERA in 25 outings for the O's this season, was DFA'd to open a spot in the 'pen. The 31-year-old made only two appearances after returning from two-plus-month stint on the injured list due to right elbow discomfort, allowing three runs over 3 2/3 innings. Baltimore's 40-man roster is now at 39 players.
Sept. 3: OF Aaron Hicks reinstated from IL; OF Colton Cowser optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
Hicks had been on the injured list due to a low back strain since Aug. 19 (retroactive to Aug. 16). The Orioles felt the 33-year-old outfielder didn't need a Minor League rehab assignment before rejoining the club. He was previously on the IL with a left hamstring strain from July 25-Aug. 14.
Cowser, Baltimore's No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 14 overall prospect, spent only two days with the O's after getting recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday for his second stint in the Majors. The 23-year-old outfielder did not get into either game.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Félix Bautista (right UCL injury)
Expected return: TBD
Bautista was removed with two outs in the ninth inning against the Rockies on Aug. 25 with what manager Brandon Hyde initially described as "arm discomfort." Orioles GM Mike Elias said on Aug. 26 that Bautista has "some degree of injury" to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. On Sept. 3, Hyde said the team was waiting for inflammation to go down before making a decision on the next step for Bautista, who underwent an MRI and could get more testing done. (Last updated: Sept. 3)
60-day IL
LHP John Means (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Early September
Means made the fifth start of his Minor League rehab assignment on Aug. 31, when he tossed five scoreless innings for Triple-A Norfolk in an outing at Worcester. The 30-year-old left-hander gave up only one hit while striking out six and walking two. He previously made three starts for Double-A Bowie and one for Norfolk, and he’s scheduled to make one more at Triple-A before potentially joining Baltimore in the near future.
The Orioles originally expected Means, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022, to potentially return by July. However, his timeline was pushed back because he sustained a strain to his left teres major (a muscle in the scapula/upper-back region) while slamming medicine balls during a workout in late May. Means is now on a trajectory to possibly return by early September. (Last updated: Sept. 3)
LHP Keegan Akin (lower back discomfort)
Expected return: Potentially September
Akin continued his rehab assignment on Aug. 3, when he struck out one and walked one over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Norfolk. Previously, he had allowed three runs on four hits over one inning in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on July 31.
The 28-year-old left-hander went on the 15-day IL on June 30 (retroactive to June 29), two days after he allowed four runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning vs. the Reds. Akin has a 6.85 ERA in 24 appearances for the Orioles this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 23. (Last updated: Aug. 23)
RHP Dillon Tate (right elbow flexor strain)
Expected return: Potentially September
After getting a second opinion on his injured right elbow, Tate was shut down and went to the Orioles' spring complex in Sarasota, Fla. The 29-year-old right-hander made three rehab appearances for Triple-A Norfolk between June 15 and 21, allowing five runs over 2 1/3 innings. General manager Mike Elias remains optimistic Tate could pitch in the big leagues before the end of the season.
Tate, who hasn't pitched for the Orioles yet this year, made 10 Minor League appearances during a 30-day rehab assignment from late April to late May. But Elias announced on May 26 that Tate experienced a setback when he sustained a stress reaction in the elbow. Elias said the reaction was separate from the previous injury. (Last updated: July 28)