BALTIMORE—The Orioles on Wednesday placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list because of right elbow discomfort and purchased the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez from Triple-A Norfolk.
Making his first start of the season, the 31-year-old Eflin left Tuesday night’s game in the fourth inning; he allowed a run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out seven.
Eflin re-signed with the Orioles in December after having back surgery last August. He is scheduled for imaging on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Suárez adds depth to the Orioles’ bullpen. Over the past two games, the bullpen has had to cover eight innings because of short starts by Eflin and Chris Bassitt.
Manager Craig Albernaz said that Suárez could help in the bullpen as well as when Eflin’s spot comes up in the rotation early next week in Chicago.
“He’s factoring into that and also read and react to how guys line up and how guys are feeling, both here and Norfolk,” he said.
In 2024, Suárez started 24 times, tied for second most on the team, and was 9-7 with a 3.70 ERA. Last year, he missed most of the season with a rotator cuff injury and pitched only five times for the Orioles. His season ended in mid-September with an elbow injury.
He wasn’t offered a major league contract but signed a minor league contract with the team on April 17th. Suárez did not make the team this spring and was yet to pitch for Norfolk.
“When we talked to him in spring about not making the Opening Day roster, we reiterated to him multiple times the value that he brings to us in the organization,” Albernaz said. “We’re excited to have Albie here. He’s such a great competitor, great teammate. He can pitch.”
Albernaz knew Suárez when he was a young prospect in the Tampa Bay organization nearly 20 years ago, long before he spent five years in Japan and South Korea.
“Never giving up on this dream to be here,” Albernaz said. “It’s really tough to bet against a guy that’s been through adversity and has improved himself and continued to get better. That’s another reason why he’s going to continue to make a huge impact on us.”
To make room for Suárez on the 40-man roster, third baseman Jordan Westburg was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Albernaz said Westburg “has been swinging a bat, and throwing a baseball-ish, I think.”
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected]