The Orioles introduced Thursday that they’ve positioned infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo at the 10-day injured checklist because of a subluxation (i.e. partial dislocation) of his left elbow. Fellow infielder/outfielder Connor Norby is up from Triple-A Norfolk in his position. Baltimore additionally optioned righty Chayce McDermott to Norfolk following closing night time’s MLB debut and recalled righty Bryan Baker, including a contemporary arm to the bullpen.
Mateo suffered the harm on Tuesday in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson when each infielders slid for an up-the-middle grounder (video hyperlink). It’s no longer transparent but how lengthy he’ll be sidelined. Supervisor Brandon Hyde advised the Baltimore beat that Mateo will “omit a while,” however there’s nonetheless sufficient swelling to obfuscate the entire restoration image (hyperlink by means of Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Solar). Whilst Mateo didn’t require fast surgical operation, his arm was once positioned in a forged on Tuesday. He’ll ultimately obtain a 2nd opinion, Weyrich tweets, and Hyde added that it’s “too quickly” to inform whether or not Mateo will want surgical operation sooner or later.
With Mateo out for an indefinite length, Norby will “get some common taking part in time” at 2nd base, Hyde printed. It’s a notable construction each within the sense that Norby has ranked some of the machine’s best possible possibilities since he was once decided on in the second one spherical of the 2021 draft and within the sense that Norby has been a oft-speculated industry candidate because the O’s glance to improve their pitching workforce. The Orioles possess sufficient infield intensity that they may nonetheless industry Norby — Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias can each play 2nd base, and 3rd base prospect Coby Mayo is ready within the higher minors — however that result turns out much less most likely now that he’s ticketed for a near-everyday function within the large leagues.
Mateo, 29, has been the Orioles’ number one 2nd baseman this season. He’s batted simply .229/.267/.401 at the yr. That’s 13% worse than league-average, via measure of wRC+, however Mateo has equipped modest pop (5 homers, .172 ISO) and a variety of price at the basepaths (13-for-15 in steals). Defensive metrics really feel he’s been kind of common with the glove — his penchant for highlight-reel performs no longer withstanding.
With what turns out like a notable absence or even a possible for surgical operation at the desk, Mateo’s outlook in Baltimore turns into cloudy. He’s due for yet another arbitration elevate this offseason and would achieve loose company following the 2025 marketing campaign. Given the opportunity of a protracted layoff, the group’s enviable infield intensity and the truth that Mateo is owed a elevate on a $2.7MM wage, he may just once more emerge as an offseason industry candidate or non-tender candidate, relying at the final analysis for his harm.
The 24-year-old Norby isn’t prone to be a defensive improve however can also be relatively anticipated to supply a spice up to an already potent lineup. He’s hitting .297/.389/.519 in Norfolk (133 wRC+) with 16 house runs, 21 doubles, a triple, 13 steals (in 16 tries) and a stout 12.5% stroll charge. Norby’s 27.7% strikeout charge with the Tides is a pink flag, however punchouts haven’t been a long-running downside for the East Carolina College product.
Norby made his large league debut previous this season, showing in 4 video games and going 3-for-14 with a house run sooner than being despatched go into reverse. He can’t accrue a complete yr of carrier in 2024, that means he’ll nonetheless be underneath membership keep an eye on for some other six complete seasons. He’s within the first of his 3 minor league choice years and received’t be arbitration-eligible till the 2027-28 offseason on the earliest.
