BALTIMORE—Catcher Gary Sánchez, who has been on the 60-day injured list with a sprained right knee since July 6th won’t be returning to the Orioles this season, interim manager Tony Mansolino said.
“No, no, no no. We probably won’t see Gary,” Mansolino said. “Just where we’re at with the roster and where everything’s at.”
Sánchez had been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. That ended on Sunday when the Tides’ season ended.
Due to the sprained knee and a right wrist injury, Sánchez, who signed a $8.5 million contract for this season, played in only 29 games, hitting .231 with five home runs and 24 RBIs. He threw out just one of the 17 runners who attempted to steal (5.6 percent).
The Orioles activated Adley Rutschman from the 10-day injured list on Monday, and he’s catching and batting sixth. With Samuel Basallo, who’s the designated hitter in Tuesday’s lineup and Alex Jackson, the Orioles have three catchers on the 28-man roster.
The Orioles activated right-hander Colin Selby from the 15-day injured list. Selby had been on the IL since July 29th with a strained left hamstring. Right-hander Jose Espada was optioned to the Orioles spring training complex in Sarasota. Espada allowed one hit in three scoreless innings on Saturday night.
Right-hander Chayce McDermott, who had been on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List was placed on the 15-day injured list with back discomfort.
Roboumps coming: Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that as expected, the Automatic Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge system will be in use for the 2026 system.
Teams will have two challenges per game, and if they’re successful, the challenges will be retained. Only the pitcher, catcher or batter may challenge a call.
The ABS has been used in Triple-A ball and was used in select Grapefruit Legue games last spring.
Mansolino said he was originally opposed to many of the rule changes in recent years but now favors them.
“Everything they’ve done with these new rules, they’ve actually turned the game back,” Mansolino said. “Does this fit into that? I don’t know if it does, but my guess is I’m probably going to enjoy it. I think the fans are going to love it.”
Trevor Rogers, who was voted Most Valuable Oriole has pitched with the system at Norfolk.
“It’s going to be interesting. To incorporate the challenge system, I think it’s going to help some guys with tight situations in the game,” Rogers said. “If an umpire gets a call wrong, you’re going to be able to challenge that.”
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