CLEVELAND—The combination of the trade deadline moves and the injury to infielder Jordan Westburg has created a significant makeover of the Orioles as they begin the month of August.
As players walked into the visiting clubhouse at Progressive Field on Thursday, there were many introductions.
“This is kind of normal for a post-deadline day when you get some new faces in the clubhouse,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I’ve talked with all of them now. They’re really excited to be here, excited to be a part of the team and where we are in the standings and all of them just want to contribute and help out any way that they can. Really appreciate the attitudes of all the guys that have come in.”
The Orioles’ starting pitcher on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, Trevor Rogers, was at a locker next to his catcher, Adley Rutschman, and players came over to say hello. Rogers, a 26-year-old left-hander, was traded from Miami on Tuesday for infielder Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers.
“He’s pumped to be here,” Hyde said. “He’s pumped to pitch on a winning team right now. Hopefully, he can give us a boost. He’s been throwing the ball well the last eight or nine starts in Miami.”
Rogers will start on his first day with the Orioles, which Hyde doesn’t’ think is unusual.
“Not when you’ve been in the big leagues for a while,” he said. “Those things happen. I’ve seen it many times before.”
Westburg, who had played third and second for the Orioles, had his right hand broken on Wednesday when he was hit by a pitch. It came on the day that Jackson Holliday rejoined the team, and the 20-year-old second baseman hit a grand slam immediately after Westburg was struck.
Hyde said there was no update on Westburg, whom he hopes can play before the end of the regular season.
“It’s a huge blow,” Hyde said. “It’s terrible. He wants to be here. He wants to play. For him to not be able to do that right now, it’s tough.”
Since Ramón Urías is likely to get more playing time at third, the Orioles needed a utility player. Instead of summoning top prospect Coby Mayo, they opted for Liván Soto, who can play second, shortstop and third.
“I’m sure you’ll see Coby here at some point,” Hyde said. “He’s going to continue to be at Triple-A and play well.”
To add Rogers, they needed to drop a pitcher, and left-hander Keegan Akin, who has an option remaining, was sent to Triple-A Norfolk. Because they needed to add designated hitter Eloy Jiménez and outfielder Austin Slater, they optioned Heston Kjerstad to Norfolk and designated outfielder Cristian Pache for assignment.
“The Heston decision was a tough one,” Hyde said. “We think extremely highly of Heston. Doesn’t mean that Heston’s not going to be back with us soon. This is just the decision we made for right now and where our roster is and what we feel like is putting the best roster out every single night. We have good outfielders here, and everyday playing time isn’t available right now, and hopefully down the road it will be.”
Hyde said concerns about Kjerstad aren’t why he was sent back to Triple-A.
“No, the talent in our outfield has,” Hyde said.
Kjerstad hit .261 with a .791 OPS and three home runs and 12 RBIs. Since returning from the 7-day concussion injured list after he was hit by a pitch on his helmet on July 12th, Kjerstad was just 2-for-18 (.111)
“It’s never easy sending a guy down as good of a player as Heston is,” Hyde said. “You can add Keegan Akin in there as well, how well he’s been throwing the ball for us.”
Akin was 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA in 47 games with a 0.971 WHIP and more than four times as many strikeouts (67) to walks (16).
Hyde knew Jiménez as a teenage Cubs prospect.
“One thing that Eloy has always been able to do is really, really hit,” Hyde said. “Be a hitter first and also have huge power, been able to change the game with one swing, but also take really good at-bats. I’m hoping that he can bring that for us here.”
Jiménez probably won’t play much outfield.
“He’s not 100 percent physically. He was on the IL with a hamstring,” Hyde said. “I know that’s a work in progress. He’s starting to feel better and better. He’s been playing with it. At times if that improves, possibly in the outfield a little bit, but mainly as a DH/pinch hitter kind of player.”
They had added Pache last Friday in the trade with Philadelphia that brought reliever Seranthony Dominguez to Baltimore and sent outfielder Austin Hays to the Phillies.