Orioles Transfer Ryan Helsley To 60-Day IL, Select Sam Huff

5:07PM: Speaking with MASN Sports and other media after today’s 5-2 win over the Astros, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Rutschman is day to day with some discomfort in his left wrist.  Adding to the catching situation, Samuel Basallo left today’s game in the second due to right shoulder discomfort.  Albernaz said the shoulder issue has been “a lingering thing” for Basallo that was “aggravated today.”

12:55PM: The Orioles are going with three catchers for the time being, as Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports that the club is selecting Sam Huff from Triple-A Norfolk. Right-hander Cam Sanders is being optioned to Triple-A to clear space Huff on the active roster. In a corresponding 40-man move, Ryan Helsley is being transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Baltimore is facing the Astros’ Hunter Brown today, a right-handed pitcher. Notably, Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is not in the starting lineup, despite doing most of his damage against righties this year. Rutschman played the whole game yesterday as the DH, going 0-4 with one strikeout and a walk. It’s unclear if he’s injured or just needs a day or two to rest, though in any case, the team felt it necessary to bring up Huff as an extra option behind the plate.

Helsley’s transfer to the 60-day IL is the bigger move. The Baltimore closer missed a month and a half earlier in the season for right elbow inflammation. He was activated on June 16th but clearly wasn’t at his best. From June 17th through the 27th, Helsley allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, along with three home runs. He went back on the IL with renewed elbow discomfort on July 3rd (retroactive to June 30th).

Helsley seems to be taking a cautious approach to his rehab given his initial unsuccessful return last month. Yesterday, he told reporters, including Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, that he expects this IL stint to be more “extended.” It was reported last week that Meyer would avoid elbow surgery, but in the righty’s own words, “[I’m] just trying to make sure that it’s out of there. The only way, logically, is to give it a little bit more time.”

With today’s transfer, Helsley is eligible to return from the IL as early as August 29th. That would give him only a month of the regular season in the best case scenario. Helsley joined the Orioles on a two-year, $28MM guarantee this past offseason, with the latter $14MM coming via a player option for 2027. Given his injury troubles this year, it’s becoming more likely that he’ll accept that option and remain with Baltimore for 2027. That would set Helsley up for a healthier platform season and a more lucrative return to free agency than he could achieve this year, which may have been difficult anyway with the looming lockout.

Sanders was acquired last week in a cash trade with the Pirates, and Baltimore immediately optioned him to Triple-A. He was recalled on Friday and pitched both that day and Saturday, tossing a combined 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts. Sanders’ 8.68 ERA in 9 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh was less impressive, though his mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider are intriguing enough. He’ll presumably get called up in the future when the bullpen needs a fresh arm.

Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images