Orioles’ Hyde hopes Webb is close to returning; Updates on Coulombe, Westburg, Mountcastle, Rodriguez, Urias
DETROIT—Orioles reliever Jacob Webb threw his fourth rehab assignment, a scoreless inning for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday night. Webb is rehabbing an inflamed right elbow.
Manager Brandon Hyde said on Friday before the Orioles begin a three-game series in Detroit, that Webb’s inning went well. The Orioles start Friday night two games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East.
“Hoping that he feels good today. He’s going to go through next-day activity, and we’ll make a decision on him, hopefully in the next few days,” Hyde said.
Webb might join the team in Detroit this weekend.
“I think it’s a possibility,” Hyde said. “I’m hoping.”
Left-hander Danny Coulombe, who threw a scoreless inning for Norfolk on Wednesday, will throw again this weekend, possibly on Saturday. Coulombe had bone chips removed from his left elbow in June.
Infielder Jordan Westburg, who’s on the injured list with a broken right hand, “is doing better. He’s doing all baseball activities, swinging the bat in the cage now. All positive, no setbacks right now,” Hyde said. “When you haven’t swung a bat for a while and you’re coming off a broken hand, it takes a little while to gain strength in your hand. They’re building strength in the hand. He’s just getting used to swinging the bat.”
Hyde is unsure about first baseman Ryan Mountcastle’s progress. Mountcastle is on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist.
“He’s in Sarasota. I’m hoping that he’s going to start swinging a bat in the next few days,” Hyde said. “Then it’s going to be a hitting progression, too. I’m trying to stay optimistic that we’ll see him by the end of the season.”
Starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who’s on the injured list with right lat/teres discomfort, threw a side session in Boston, and Hyde is “hoping for a live [batting practice] sometime soon. Unsure of the timetable.”
Infielder Ramón Urías on the injured list with a sprained right ankle remains ahead of schedule, Hyde said.
“He’s swinging the bat. He’s doing some baseball activities,” he said. “He’s trying to let this [ankle heal] soon and hopefully we’ll see him sometime soon.”
Hyde said he tries not to focus on the injuries.
“Right now, we’ve got to beat the Detroit Tigers with the 28 guys we’ve got tonight,” Hyde said. “I’m hoping these guys can come back and help us. They’re big pieces for us. My fingers are crossed, but I’m really focusing on trying to win the series here with these guys. We’ll see what happens.”