Orioles’ Mullins and Mountcastle begin rehab assignments for Norfolk

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida —First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and centerfielder Cedric Mullins are beginning rehab assignments Tuesday night for Triple-A Norfolk. Mountcastle, who hasn’t played since June 8^th because of vertigo, was with the Orioles in Chicago this past weekend.

Mullins, who suffered a right groin strain on May 29^th, had been working out in Sarasota.

“We’re hoping it goes well,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’re going to evaluate both of those guys after every game. It’s going to be a day-to-day thing with them. Nice to see them out there and hopefully it goes well for both of them.”

Hyde said they’d play complete games.

“It’s pretty much when they get the at-bats and how they recover tomorrow and all those type of things,” Hyde said. “Every day we’re just going to check in and see where they’re at.”

The Tides are playing at Nashville on Tuesday night.

When Mullins was injured, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said he hoped that Mullins’ absence wouldn’t be lengthy.

“I think we’re hopeful that it’s something that’s best measured in weeks instead of months,” he said.

“He’s been running extremely well in Sarasota,” Hyde said. “It could have been a lot worse. We caught a break there.”

When Mullins was hurt, the Orioles signed Aaron Hicks, who has hit .327 in 16 games.

“Aaron Hicks, Ryan O’Hearn, what they’ve done the last couple of weeks, been a huge part of a lot of our wins and our offense,” Hyde said. “Hicks’ defense in center field, they’ve allowed us to manage the team away from Cedric, a massive part of our team, and the year he was having, the way he was driving in runs, the Gold Glove defense he plays. That’s what he brings to the table on a nightly basis. I was really happy the way our guys picked it around him, picked up the pieces. We got fortunate that Hicks was available, and he’s played great for us.”

Hyde said that relief pitcher Mychal Givens, who’s on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, will pitch for Norfolk on Wednesday.

“The same with the other guys, we’re reevaluating after every outing,” Hyde said.