The Orioles have placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list due to a left shoulder impingement, and designated right-hander Kyle Gibson for assignment. Outfielder Dylan Carlson and right-hander Kade Strowd were called up from Triple-A in the corresponding roster moves.
After signing a three-year, $49.5MM free agent deal this past winter, the early days of O’Neill’s tenure in Baltimore have been marked by injuries and a subpar performance at the plate. This is already his second IL trip, as he previously missed a couple of weeks due to neck soreness in late April and early May. It is fair to wonder if these health issues have led to O’Neill’s modest .188/.280/.325 slash line and two home runs over 93 plate appearances, as O’Neill just hasn’t looked like himself this year.
Being hampered by injuries has been a frequent subplot of O’Neill’s eight-year MLB career, as the outfielder has only twice topped the 100-game mark in a season. One of those comparatively healthier seasons came with the Red Sox in 2024, as O’Neill made 473 PA over 113 games and hit .241/.336/.511 with 31 home runs. O’Neill hit the IL on three separate occasions but with a minimal amount of missed time, which allowed O’Neill plenty of opportunity to mash at Fenway Park.
The O’s were impressed enough to bring O’Neill aboard in what was the most expensive signing of Baltimore’s offseason, yet like so many other moves in what is becoming a Murphy’s Law year for the Orioles, O’Neill has yet to deliver much at the plate. Given how much criticism was directed at the front office and at ownership for not spending over the winter, the struggles of one of the players who did receive a healthy contract has only added to the discord of the Orioles’ 15-29 start.
Gibson was another offseason signing, though he joined the O’s just a week before Opening Day on a one-year, $5.25MM contract. The Cardinals declined their $12MM club option on Gibson’s services for the 2025 season, sending the veteran starter into the open market for what ended up being an extended stay. Since he didn’t have a proper Spring Training, Gibson agreed to begin the season in the minors so he could ramp up, but it seems like the right-hander is still showing plenty of rust.
Called up to the Orioles’ roster in late April, Gibson has been tagged for a 16.78 ERA over four starts and 12 1/3 innings. The ugly numbers include six runs allowed in just two-thirds of an inning in yesterday’s start, which ended up as a 10-6 Orioles loss to the Nationals.
Gibson was blunt about his lack of performance when speaking with MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko and other media yesterday, saying “four times taking the mound feeling like you haven’t given the team a chance to win each time is a pretty big gut punch. Feeling like you’re part of getting a manager fired is a gut punch. Just not going out there and being able to compete and give the team a chance to win every five days is frustrating. So yeah, I don’t know if any of you guys have ever felt the feeling of essentially letting down your co-workers, but it’s a gut punch.”
The DFA doesn’t necessarily mean that Gibson’s time in Baltimore is over. Since there is no chance another team will claim the right-hander (and assume the rest of his salary) off waivers, Gibson could accept an outright assignment to Triple-A to give himself more time to get on track. Gibson also has more than enough MLB service time to decline an outright assignment, which would allow him to retain his salary and re-enter free agency again.
Strowd is now back with the Orioles for the second time within the last month, though the right-hander has yet to officially make his Major League debut with an in-game appearance. A 12th-round pick for Baltimore in the 2019 draft, Strowd’s minor league numbers aren’t great, as he has only a 6.99 ERA over 56 2/3 career frames at the Triple-A level. That performance does come with a 31.02% strikeout rate and grounder rates that frequently top the 50% mark, but also a 12.41% walk rate.
Despite the rough bottom-line results, the Orioles were intrigued enough by Strowd’s ability to miss bats to add him to the 40-man roster last November in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. This latest call-up should at least allow the righty to get a big league appearance on his resume, and given Baltimore’s pitching needs, there’s plenty of opportunity for Strowd to stick if he pitches decently well during however long he remains on the roster.
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery so he can return to bench-pressing soon.
Aaron Judge probably bench presses, too. Some guys can stay mostly healthy, some can’t.
gbs – Judge doesn’t have the muscle that O’Neill has, or the bodybuilding background.
Honest question, has there ever been any specific incident pinpointed with all these injuries? Hit by pitch, collision, hard fall, etc?
He’s had some ……. um, weird unexplained injuries.
FPG,
His dad is a champion bodybuilder, so genetics certainly play a role in him being so prone to injuries from the movements required in baseball, which of course are much different from bodybuilding.
Fever, see Tanner Houck. Might be a guy struggling gets a seat for a little while to hopefully help him get back on track to his normal production?
Bro, you ruined a good Fever joke… just let it go ;).
Ok.., oops.
Lol, sorry, not you I meant GBS.
Ok…
Dude is roided out of his mind, joints can’t keep up with the muscle.
Evidence??? They test these days, you know…
O’Neil is definitely one of those guys who can’t. I hate to question his drive not having any inside information to back it up but o’neils injuries mostly seem to be vague or a lot of minor stuff I think a lot of played play through
seth – Agreed, either vague or without any explanation.
Like his leg infection last year, “I just woke up, my leg was blown up and totally unexpected, no idea how it happened.”
How is it possible he had no clue? No bug bite, no cut, nothing?
Don’t get me wrong, I admire the guy’s dedication to bodybuilding and obviously every man (and some women) would love to be as muscular as him …. but he’s getting paid to play baseball, therefore baseball should come first.
He’s basically stealing money by refusing to cut back on the strength training.
Ah back in the good old days. Dylan Carlson replacing O’neill due to injury.
Back in the “good ole days” ONeill would sit on the bench healthy while Carlson played.
Why? Carlson has been a much lesser player to date than O’Neill.
Carlson has ALWAYS been the lesser player. People think ONeill has always missed games because of injury but thats not the whole truth. The first few years of ONeills career he sat on the bench healthy while lesser players like Carlson and Fowler played.
No, he didn’t. Aside from when they were both quality starters in 2021, O’Neill has always played over Carlson when healthy. O’Neill just has trouble staying healthy.
Fowler in 2019, yes, because Fowler actually was the better player that year (which people forget after his horrible 2018 season and being on the IL for much of 2017, 2020, and 2021), but O’Neill had already established himself as a starter by the time Carlson debuted in 2020.
So 2021 doesn’t count?
When was Fowler the better player?
I was talking last night to a buddy about it. In boxing we did light weights more reps before fight. Why is he trying to impress at gym during seasons? Some manager should revoke key card to gym until can prove healthy
He has a 49.5 million dollar contract. So he seems to be doing something right.
Haters gonna hate
Lovers gonna love
I don’t even want
None of the above……
Most bodybuilders train with high reps and moderate weight. He didn’t get that body from maxing out.
In wrestling and Jiu Jitsu we built stamina all offseason long, but lifted heavy, fewer times per week, during the season.
I’m assuming a lot of these injuries are from too many reps – overuse injuries. Probably has or going to have some serious tendinitis as he ages too.
Always thought something similar with Michael Lorensen during his Reds days. He seemed on the IL at least once a season.
I remember in high school getting chewed out for lifting with the football players. I thought it justified as a catcher but my coaches didn’t see it that way.
That was the 80s though.
Scott m: These are grown, adult men. They don’t need permission or key cards to use a gym or weight room.
And boxing is completely irrelevant.
Don’t they put clauses in contracts like no skiing no snowmobiles and things like that? I guess the Orioles didn’t put one in there that Tyler couldn’t be going toward his primary goal of looking like Hans and Franz.
In pickle ball I just show up without stretching or training and play. I don’t swing and miss as much as O’Neil. Maybe he should learn from my athletic prowess!!!
Again?????
all oneill does is get injured. his entire career. for every tm he’s played for. he has spent more time on the IR than he has on the field
Thats false
Carlson is 0 for 15 this year. One more nail in Elias’ future?
We can argue about elias ability as gm, but no one expected carlsom to be more than bench fodder
Yes, I am sure the optionable depth OF he signed for $900k will seal the deal on his termination.
Will they even notice he’s gone?
2nd trip to the IL already for O’Neill. This is why the Sox didn’t try to keep him
Gibson DFA is a bit surprising after 4 starts but I see the O’s are trying to change the tides.
Outside of seeing that 16+ ERA, if you watched him pitch, you’d understand why. Maybe they resign him to a minor league deal for depth, not sure, but he looks like he’s toast.
@skins
The results in those 4 starts (especially the epically awful last one) speak for themselves. That having been said, I respect Gibby for a) not finding blame in anyone else but himself b) for what he was able to give at this point in his career to the O’s 2 yrs ago and to the Cards last year. The guy is a true professional even if Father Time caught up to him.
With really no Triple A starters to rob time from, I wouldn’t be against seeing him in Norfolk trying to help the staff learn some about prep and mental strength as he gives it one last go to see if he can find something in sequencing or grip to squeeze out a little benefit for the $5MM in payroll. I can see Gibson being a good pitching coach one day. Even the best players (im not saying he’s one of the best) of all time eventually wear out.
100% agree. He’s a quality human being and would make a great coach, if that’s the path he wanted to choose. A pros pro as the say.
Free agents really should be more desperate to sign before Spring Training starts, especially pitchers, even if they have to settle for a well below market deal. Tossing bullpen sessions in early March and then tuning up in AAA for a few weeks has proven to not be a good enough substitute.
“change the tides” I see what you did there! Sneaky good AAA affiliate punchline! (Norfolk Tides)
Surprised it’s a shoulder issue and not his 42in python forearms for Tyler O’Neil. I also had no idea he was on the Orioles.
Kyle Gibson DFA is strange since they needed pitching help
6 runs in less than an inning isn’t help. He has been horrible. AA rookie can pitch better.
You must not have actually watched him pitch.
Bro, looks at his stats.
He ain’t helping anyone except the opposing team right now.
Well…they can name Hyde as a special adviser too…so they can have both
Built like a Greek god, durable like a Greek pastry
Carlson is tearing it up in AAA. I think he’s ready for the show.
Hope the Mets “pitching lab” can fix him.
Orioles dumpster diving for pitching has been an embarrassment the last few years. Fans should be outraged at the ownership.
Tyler is batting .078 since April 5. I think he’s cooked.
Let – Another feather in Scott’s cap … highest paid Oriole this year, unreal.
I could see Gibson accepting an outright assignment and going back to Norfolk to try to figure things out since no one is going to claim him and his $5 million salary, and his horrendous performance so far this year will likely result in a pretty tepid response on the open market for him.
Wow what an incredible winter for Elias:
Pitchers:
Morton – $15 million, 0-7 and now a mop up guy
Kittredge – $9 million, has not thrown a pitch for the team
Gibson – $5.25 million, 0-3, probably can pin the 4th loss on him
Nearly $30 million and it accounts for 10 or 11 losses, with all that’s left is a DFA, a mop up guy, and a reliever in AAA still waiting to make a debut.
Offense:
O’Neill – $16.5 million – after this latest trip to IL will miss more than half of first 50 games, basically missing on the field when he does play with 2 HR, hitting .188 and poor defense. The guy he replaced is off to a bad start but not this bad.
Sanchez – $8.5 million – didn’t hit whatsoever, got hurt
His one positive on pitching is Sugano who has done well so far but has some questionable underlying metrics and the hot Baltimore summer ahead. The one on offense is Laureano, at $4 million, who so far has been one of the more productive hitters and shouldn’t be. Negate Laureano’s bargain by signing Mateo to $3.5 million to be a pinch runner and make errors
Anyone want to lecture me on how smart Elias is now?
Thornton — I’ll say no GM/POBO is perfect or clairvoyant. Elias has plenty of wins, and big wins at that. Of course he has his misses. It’s the nature of the game.
There’s still plenty of season left for those players to offset their early production lows/absences. None of which will offset the record.
The Orioles have played virtually every game from early deficits. The season is just one big 2025 game at this point.
I think Kyle Gibson will accept a minor league demotion so that he can himself back on track to contribute to the club.
Team has no pride and no fight. Down seven nothing to the “powerhouse” nationals on a slew of homers again.
The – Yeah it’s one thing to lose games, quite another to lose big to bad teams.
Welcome to Milwaukee Kyle.
Well, this year’s not a total disappointment. He homered on opening day again.
I don’t take joy in Hyde getting his walking papers, first time manager in the bigs. He definitely needs to improve his decision making. I don’t take joy in Gibson getting annihilated either, he has certainly been a better pitcher than those god awful numbers. This was not a good situation for him to be brought into, or a good situation at all thanks to a certain GM. I hope he can figure it out and either stick here and be reliable or find a better opportunity elsewhere. Might have to reinvent himself as same handed specialist type if he wants to stick around.
All in all the past couple of days have been far too little and far too late for my O’s. Which is wild to say as we’re only 1/2 way through May. Literally need a miracle run after you (hopefully) get guys like Bradish, Wells and Grayson back who by the way aren’t the most proven pitchers in their own right. Talented and full of potential? Absolutely. Proven themselves year in and year out? Not yet.
If this continues he’s not going to opt out and he’s going to trying and collect that 20 mil Elias foolishly signed O’Neill for.
Gibson- talk about flushing $5.25m down the drain
I never saw this total implosion by the O’s. What a change from 2 seasons ago. Sit on your laurels in MLB and you get run over.
Window – Exactly! To lose the production of Burnes & Santander and not replace it seems beyond foolish. There was never a chance Tyler would match or exceed Santander’s 2024 numbers.
I’m so sorry, O’s fans. Tyler is wrapped so tight. He tears and breaks everything. How many IL’s this month? Season?
It’s a shame.
Water is Wet, Tyler is Injured. How many more seasons do you have Tyler signed?
Another Lineup and Another Day of Tyler not in the Lineup.. Damn Shame.
O’s to have a fire sale by trade deadline. Expect most every player with expiring contract to be gone, up to 10 in all. As for O’Neill, what was Elias
thinking picking up this always hurt overrated albatross. Two more years to go on this contract.. Elias on short lease and needs to address media on Hyde firing and direction of team. Wishful thinking this season can be salvaged.
I think O’Neill can still turn it around.. The O’Neill deal doesn’t look great but 2/32 left isn’t quite an albatross. This season is over though
Need to seriously look at the mistakes that have been made and correct them. Can Elias still do that? I hope so. He built a nice pipeline of players for us and had some big wins prior to this. His offseason looks awful and we need some big changes.