Season-ending knee surgery for Orioles’ Stewart

PHILADELPHIA—Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart’s season is over. Stewart was placed on the 60-day injured list because of a right knee injury, and he’ll have surgery for what the team has called a “right knee osteochondral defect.”

“They’re going to clean it up in the next couple of weeks,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’ll have a procedure and should be ready to go for spring.”

It’s the second time in three years that Stewart will have surgery. In October 2019, Stewart had right ankle surgery that hadn’t healed by spring training 2020.

“It’s been going on for a while,” Hyde said. “Really for the last couple of months, he’s been getting treatment. Everybody felt it was the right time for him to shut [it] down and take care of it and be ready for spring training next year.”

Stewart ends the season with a .204 average, 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in 100 games. His 44 walks helped account for a .324 on-base percentage. His OPS was .698.

“DJ’s shown flashes of the type of hitter he can be,” Hyde said. “I think the knee has bothered him in the second half. It’s hard to produce when your base doesn’t feel good underneath you … DJ never really got going this year. I think he showed spurts. He obviously has above-average power. I thought he was making strides defensively in the first half. He didn’t play much outfield the second half because [of] the knee.

“I love the way he [draws] walks. He takes a good at-bat. Now, it’s about putting up a little better numbers and continue to improve.”

For the moment, the Orioles have just one extra outfielder, Ryan McKenna. With the Orioles starting right-hander Conner Greene as part of a bullpen game Tuesday night against the Phillies, right-hander César Valdez’s contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. Valdez was 2-1 with a 5.76 ERA and eight saves in 38 games with the Orioles this season and 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA in nine games at Norfolk.

“I think we’re day-to-day with everything right now,” Hyde said. “We’ve got a bullpen game today. We beefed up the pitching and then we’re going to see where we are. We meet after every game … We’re just trying to manage the roster as best as we possibly can the last couple of weeks.”

Earlier in the day, the Orioles acquired right-handed pitcher Joey Krehbiel on waivers from Tampa Bay. Krehbiel has pitched four scoreless innings, three for Arizona in 2018, and one for the Rays this year.

The Orioles designated right-hander Manny Barreda for assignment. Barreda was 1-0 with a 13.50 ERA in three games for the Orioles

Right-hander Dusten Knight, who was designated for assignment on Sunday, has cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Norfolk.

Bruce Zimmermann, who is on the 60-day injured list because of a sprained right ankle and threw a rehab game for Double-A Bowie on Saturday, has been transferred to Norfolk.