Orioles Notes: Holliday, Means, Kremer

The Orioles positioned Jackson Holliday on the minor league injured listing yesterday. Regardless of the dearth of affect on the membership’s energetic roster, the transfer nonetheless raised eyebrows due to Holliday’s standing because the consensus #1 general prospect within the sport. Luckily, membership GM Mike Elias informed reporters (together with MASN’s Melanie Newman) that Holliday is coping with a “barking” shoulder however that the problem isn’t critical and that he’s anticipated to want solely a “few weeks” of relaxation earlier than he returns to motion.

That’s absolutely a reduction for followers in Baltimore, as Holliday figures to hitch fellow children like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Grayson Rodriguez as a key a part of the core for the Orioles going ahead as soon as he establishes himself on the massive league stage. The 20-year-old infielder bought his first style of massive league motion earlier this yr however struggled badly with a with simply two hits in 36 journeys to the plate throughout ten video games. That robust stretch led the Orioles to ship Holliday again to the minors, and he’s continued to hit properly on the Triple-A stage since his return with a .252/.418/.429 slash line in 189 journeys to the plate.

That being stated, Holliday has struggled (not less than by his personal lofty requirements) within the month of June to date, hitting simply .212 with a 26.7% strikeout fee and a .394 slugging proportion, though his proclivity for drawing walks has allowed him to stay productive over all. Between the teenager’s relative struggles and his obvious elbow subject, it’s hardly a shock that the Orioles have determined to play it secure with their prized prospect. Luckily for followers in Baltimore, the Orioles lineup has performed extremely properly thus far within the season and is hardly in want of reinforcements. The membership’s 116 wRC+ is the third greatest determine in baseball this yr, and Jorge Mateo has posted an honest .236/.281/.441 (103 wRC+) slash line whereas getting the lion’s share of enjoying time at Holliday’s doubtless long run place of second base.

In different information across the Orioles, southpaw John Means not too long ago underwent his second Tommy John surgery in simply over two years after making 4 begins for Baltimore late within the 2023 marketing campaign and one other 4 begins this yr. Regardless of the absolutely irritating bodily setbacks, nonetheless, Means not too long ago informed reporters (together with Rich Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball) that he totally intends to return to pitching after he completes his post-surgery rehab, which is able to sideline him for all the 2024 season and far of 2025.

“I nonetheless need to pitch, truthfully,” Means stated (per Dubroff). “I’d wish to fail on the sector earlier than I give it up. I really feel like if I am going there, I can nonetheless pitch and get outs. I nonetheless really feel actually assured about my potential. I’ve to have my elbow sustain.”

For all of Means’s struggles when it comes to staying on the sector, he’s actually been efficient when wholesome. The southpaw has a profession 3.68 ERA with a 4.56 FIP throughout his 401 innings of labor within the majors, and though he’s managed simply ten begins for the reason that starting of the 2022 marketing campaign he’s been nothing in need of glorious in them with a 2.75 ERA and three.99 FIP in 52 1/3 innings of labor. Given these robust outcomes, it’s not onerous to think about Means, 31, returning to motion as an efficient and helpful starter as soon as he’s lastly wholesome. It’s unclear whether or not or not that return will are available an Orioles uniform, nonetheless, because the lefty is about to develop into a free agent after the 2024 marketing campaign.

With Means and Tyler Wells each sidelined by UCL surgical procedure and ace righty Kyle Bradish coping with UCL issues of his personal, the Baltimore rotation is in a little bit of a tricky spot. Whereas Corbin Burnes and Rodriguez mix to type a robust high of the rotation, the membership has been left to depend on Cole Irvin, Cade Povich, and Albert Suarez to spherical out the group on account of various accidents. Luckily, assist might be on the way in which quickly for the membership as MLB.com’s Injury Tracker notes that right-hander Dean Kremer is anticipated to start a rehab project with a “40-ish” pitch outing tomorrow.

MLB.com goes on to notice that it stays up within the air whether or not or not Kremer will want one other rehab begin earlier than returning to the Orioles, which means the 28-year-old might probably return to motion for the membership as quickly as someday late subsequent week. The return of Kremer, who has been on the injured listing for rather less than a month on account of a triceps pressure, would offer dependable innings for the Orioles pitching workers. For the reason that begin of the 2022 season, Kremer has pitched to a strong 3.83 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 4.30 FIP in 348 innings of labor for Baltimore.