McDermott eyes quick return; Cano likes Orioles’ bullpen; González strives for debut

SARASOTA—Not long before right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott reported for spring training, he injured his right lat/teres, an injury the Orioles say isn’t serious.

McDermott wanted to compete for the starting rotation. Now, he’ll have to wait until he can resume throwing. An MRI found a mild strain, he said.

“I don’t think it should be too long until I’m back,” McDermott said on Sunday.

Last season, the Orioles’ fifth-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, had his first major league start, allowing three runs on five hits in four innings at Miami on July 24^th.

The 26-year-old was immediately returned to Triple-A Norfolk. Not long afterward, he sustained a shoulder injury that nearly ended his season.

This year, McDermott figured to get more of an opportunity.

“It’s just one of those things, McDermott said. “As you go in your career, it’s probably going to happen. It happened a week before I came here. Probably not great timing. I feel good right now already.”

Manager Brandon Hyde estimated McDermott would not be throwing for 10-to-14 days.

“I’m not 100 percent sure what the exact timeline looks like,” McDermott said. “We’re still trying to figure it out. Where I feel right now, I feel like we’re in a good position. I’ll do what the team wants me to do. I’ll be in a good position.”

McDermott said he did throw early in camp.

“It never really bothered me,” he said. “It was more of a precautionary thing. I don’t want to make it worse and miss three months in the middle of the season.”

On January 30^th, McDermott joined several of his teammates in a karaoke session at PBR Baltimore. He said the injury occurred after that.

“I think it was karaoke’s fault,” he joked.

Cano likes bullpen

Yennier Cano, who led Oriole relievers with 70 appearances in 2024, pitched live batting practice in Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich, Gregory Soto, Cionel Pérez, Seranthony Domínguez and non-roster right-hander Rodolfo Martínez also pitched.

Cano was happy to get out on the stadium mound.

“It’s great. It’s very exciting. I think it’s one thing to try at home. To be able to pitch at the field here is a different experience,” Cano said through an interpreter. “It’s always great pitching to and seeing old teammates, new teammates. It was very fun.”

Cano always seems to be a great mood and he’s even happier these days to have his buddy, Orioles’ closer Félix Bautista, back after he missed 2024 after Tommy John surgery.

“Super happy. Obviously, he’s probably my best friend on and off the field,” Cano said. “We do a lot together. To have him around again is very exciting. I’m looking forward to this year. Hopefully, we’ll have the eighth and ninth inning again like we’ve had in the past. I’m very excited to have him back.”

Domínguez, Soto, Pérez, and Andrew Kittredge also could have late-inning duties.

“It looks very solid. Having Félix back is huge,” Cano said. “Domínguez and Soto were here last year as well. It’s going to be great for us. Having so many quality arms with a lot of experience is going to be huge for us because it allows us to have more rest knowing we have a lot of quality options in the bullpen. We’re going to be able to pitch the game from the sixth through ninth innings. Anyone can go out there and get the job done.”

González looks to finally make debut

At 33, Luis González is hoping to make his major league debut. The Orioles added the left-hander to the 40-man roster in November.

“It’s a huge step in my career, though it took me far too long, but it is a really big step in my career,” he said through a translator.

He’s in his second stint with the Orioles. After three seasons with Philadelphia in a professional career that began in 2010, González was with the Orioles’ organization from 2013-2019, reaching Triple-A Norfolk.

Last year, he returned to the Orioles and was 5-3 with a 4.50 ERA and two saves for Norfolk. He struck out 71 and walked 12 in 60 innings.

“It feels different. It feels that I’m a lot closer this time,” González said. “Before I felt like there was a wall, but now it feels like I got past that being here my second time around. Ultimately, we’ll see what their decision is when the time comes.”

The Orioles have been creative in their scouting of foreign players and hope that González can be as useful as Albert Suárez was at age 34 last season after six years away from the major leagues.

“I know that there’s many at this age who have had big league careers, but also it says a lot that at this age, you still can play and you can contribute,” González said. “I think it says a lot about the organization also giving you a chance at this age to be able to go out there and play and perform.”

Since leaving the Orioles, González played in Japan, Italy and Mexico as well as the Giants’ organization.

“I’ve enjoyed all of them very much just because regardless of where I’ve been, they’ve been able to find other players from my country, Venezuela, so I’ve really enjoyed it, no matter where I’ve been,” he said. “It’s been a very fun experience, and I’ve really enjoyed my time in all of those places.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.