Orioles activate Sánchez from injured list, option Handley to Norfolk; O’Hearn scratched

BALTIMORE—The Orioles activated catcher Gary Sánchez from the 10-day injured list on Saturday and optioned catcher Maverick Handley to Triple-A Norfolk. They also scratched Ryan O’Hearn before their game against the Angels because of a sore ankle.

Sánchez, who hasn’t played since April 27^th because of right wrist inflammation, was hitting just 3-for-30 (.100).

“Nobody wants to be hurt and not being able to help the team. Feeling healthy and ready to contribute to this team,” Sánchez said through a team translator.

At the time Sánchez was placed on the IL, he wasn’t sure how long he’d be sidelined. It turned out to be longer than he thought.

“Yes, I thought it was something more simple than it ended up being,” he said. “The important thing is that I’m here now.”

Sánchez is in the lineup as the designated hitter, and wants to help the Orioles hit better against left-handers. He’s hitless in 16 at-bats with seven strikeouts against lefties.

“We’ve been struggling, but I think it’s only going to be [until] a certain day,” he said. “At some point, we’re going to start making hard contact and hitting those pitchers really well…I’m just going in there and do my job, focus on what I know I can do and try to do the best that I can.”

In eight games in his rehab at Triple-A Norfolk, Sánchez hit .364 (8-for-22) with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

“We’ve seen this guy hit so many big home runs in postseasons and pennant races,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “We’re excited to get him healthy and see the guy that we were planning on when he got signed.”

Mansolino said the Orioles were cautious with Sánchez’s rehab.

“It’s making sure when a guy misses a significant amount of time, let’s give him some at-bats to get ready to come help a major league team,” Mansolino said.

Handley, who received high marks for his work with Charlie Morton, was just 3-for-40 (.075) with two RBIs in 15 games. All 13 baserunners attempting to steal against him were successful.

“He can run a game. He can absolutely run a game,” Mansolino said. “They really like how he thinks through a game and his thought process of putting down the right fingers or pressing the right buttons.

“I know the bottom line on the offense didn’t look good on the scoreboard … There’s more to the bat probably than what the scoreboard said. I’m real excited about him. I think he’s going to carve himself a nice little niche in the big leagues in the future.”

O’Hearn scratched

Ryan O’Hearn, who was scheduled to play right field, was a late scratch because of left ankle discomfort. He was clipped by Los Angeles’ Zach Neto in the seventh inning of Friday night’s game. Ramón Laureano will play right field. Dylan Carlson has been inserted in the lineup and will play left.

Mateo continues to rest

Infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo remains on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation after he collided with Heston Kjerstad in the outfielder on May 30^th. He’s eligible to return on Tuesday but won’t.

“The initial thing was it wasn’t super serious. It’s more of taking care of him. There was some soreness from the collision. It was getting to the point where we probably needed to step on the brakes a little bit,” Mansolino said.

“We need Jorgie to be Jorgie Mateo and not be a guy that’s banged up. We thought the best way to do it was to give him a chance to rest and let things heal.”

Notes: Outfielder Colton Cowser is not in the starting lineup for the second straight game after he ran into the center-field wall on Thursday night. Mansolino said Cowser would be available off the bench. “It’s promising. We’ll see where we’re at with him tomorrow. He’s sore,” Mansolino said. … Jordan Westburg is back in the lineup after resting on Friday night. Mansolino said he didn’t want to play Westburg as a precaution since he had missed time with a strained left hamstring. Westburg played three straight games. … Tyler Wells, who had season-ending elbow surgery in June 2024, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Saturday. He’s starting to throw changeups and next week will begin throwing breaking balls.

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