Injury updates on Orioles’ Eflin, Povich, Bradish, Rutschman, Mountcastle, Akin

BALTIMORE—The Orioles are hoping to be healthier in the second half of the season, and several key players are going on rehab assignments or preparing to go.

On Sunday, starters Zach Eflin (lower back) and Cade Povich (left hip inflammation) have rehab starts at Double-A Chesapeake for Eflin and High-A Aberdeen for Povich, interim manager Tony Mansolino said.

Eflin will throw in Sarasota next Friday and then should be ready to return to the Orioles. Povich will throw again next Saturday.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a strained right hamstring, will be with the Orioles for their series after the All-Star break at Tampa Bay and report to Triple-A Norfolk on July 22^nd for a rehab assignment. He should be ready to play when he’s eligible on July 30^th.

Mansolino said there was “a good chance” that Adley Rutschman will catch Kyle Bradish for two innings on July 19^th at Sarasota. Rutschman is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique and Bradish is recovering from Tommy John surgery in June 2024.

“I just watched Adley hit. He looked great,” Mansolino said. “Swinging the bat from both sides.”

Left-hander Keegan Akin, who’s on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, will throw on Monday in Sarasota and then go on a rehab stint at Norfolk.

When Grayson Rodriguez, who has yet to pitch this season due to a right lat strain is ready to face hitters, he’ll go to Sarasota like Bradish and Tyler Wells has, because it’s hard to pitch live batting practice to major leaguers or high minor leaguers, Mansolino said.

The Orioles affiliates in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Aberdeen and Delmarva will also be on break from Monday-Thursday.

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