BALTIMORE—Cade Povich threw 75 pitches in allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk in his first rehab start on Thursday.
Povich, who’s on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation, struck out three and walked one.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said the Orioles haven’t made a decision on what’s next for the 25-year-old left-hander, who’s 2-5 with a 5.15 ERA.
“It went all right … There’s some moving pieces to that,” Mansolino said. “I’m sure we’ll have some more information later in the week.”
Right-handers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, who had season-ending right elbow injuries in June 2024, threw bullpen sessions and Mansolino said that Bradish will leave on Sunday and pitch to hitters in Sarasota. He said Wells is likely to follow about a week later.
Mansolino said they haven’t decided whether Wells will be a starter or reliever when he returns.
“We’ve just got to get him healthy,” Mansolino said. “That’s a hard thing to answer. Who knows?”
Grayson Rodriguez, whose lat injury has prevented him from pitching this season, also threw a bullpen session, and Mansolino said it went “really good from all indications.” The 25-year-old right-hander threw fastballs and breaking pitches.
Right-hander Albert Suárez, who pitched once on March 28th and went to the injured list the next day, remains sidelined with a rotator cuff injury.
“He was out there playing catch today,” Mansolino said. “Progressing as we expect in terms of the injury. In terms of the exact timeline, it’s hard to set expectations on when these guys are coming back. I don’t want to do that publicly. We don’t necessarily do it privately, either.”
Mountcastle improves: First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a strained right hamstring, said he’s improving and he expects to be back not long after July 30th when he’s eligible to return from the IL.
“It’s feeling better. Just taking it day-by-day, doing some stuff in the weight room, just trying to move it around as best as I can,” Mountcastle said. “It’s getting better.”
Mansolino, who earlier this month reported that the injury would keep Mountcastle out eight-to-12 weeks, believes it will be on the shorter end.
“That’s what we’re hoping, taking it one day at a time, hopefully no setbacks, just going with the program they had for me.,” Mountcastle said.
He clarified that the injury occurred when he stole home plate on May 30th.
“I stole home, stood up, felt a little weird, went out on the field and wasn’t really getting any better, so we decided to come out of the game, woke up the next day and did not feel good at all, knew something was up, got an MRI,” he said.
Mountcastle, who’s begun a hitting progression this week, has commiserated with his team during its struggles.
“We’ve got a really good team, and injuries are a part of the game,” Mountcastle said. “Hopefully, the back half of the season, everybody gets healthy, and we get it rolling a little bit.”
Young impresses: The Orioles optioned right-hander Brandon Young to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday and recalled right-hander Kade Strowd. Young allowed four runs in five innings. In three starts, he’s 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA.
“I liked what I saw the other night,” Mansolino said. “There’s a lot to like with that. It’s his third start in the big leagues. There should be progress in a lot of ways.”
O’Hearn on campaign trail: Ryan O’Hearn had a lead of nearly 1 million votes over New York’s Ben Rice in the voting for American League designated hitters. The final phase of voting for the July 15th All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park begins Monday at noon and ends on Wednesday at noon. Starters will be announced Wednesday night at 7 on ESPN.
“I was blown away with the amount of votes I saw yesterday,” O’Hearn said. “Very humbling, awesome. We still have to get through Phase 2.”
It would be a great story for O’Hearn to be voted as a starter.
“It would mean everything,” O’Hearn said. “I’ve been the last guy on the worst team in baseball then hit in the middle of the lineup on the team that was considered one of the best teams in the American League. I’ve seen a lot of angles in this game, and to be an All-Star is shocking to say. It would be a huge blessing and honor.” ‘
O’Hearn’s mother and her friends in their 55+ community in Arizona are campaigning hard for his election.
“It seems like a lot of people in my life have been pulling for me, voting for me, trying to get their friends to vote for me,” O’Hearn said. “It’s amazing. It makes me smile. I love them and are very fortunate to have them.”
Jackson Holliday is a second base finalist at 21.
“Sometimes I forget how young he is,” O’Hearn said. “Because he’s so mature. Plays the game the right way, plays hard.”
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