Orioles place Suárez on injured list with right elbow discomfort

CHICAGO—After pitching in just five games, the 2025 season has ended for pitcher Albert Suárez, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.

Suárez pitched in one game for the Orioles on March 28^th, then didn’t pitch again until September 2^nd. He was on the injured list with a rotator cuff injury.

The 35-year-old right-hander started Sunday’s game at Toronto, pitched three innings, and ends the season with a 2-0 record and 5.11 ERA.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Suárez reported tightness in his forearm after the third inning. He’ll get an MRI Monday night and meet with team doctors on Tuesday.

“Then we’ll have a better idea of the severity of the issue,” Mansolino said. “He was huge for us last year. If you go down the list of guys in 2024 that were big reasons why the Orioles got themselves into the playoffs, Albert is kind of at the top of the list.

“I’m disappointed for Big Al. After the career turns that he took in going overseas to Asia, finally coming back to the big leagues and being a major league starter, the predicament he’s found himself in with the injuries, I just feel for him.”

After allowing eight runs on nine hits in three innings, right-hander Carson Ragsdale was designated for assignment after being optioned to Norfolk after Sunday’s game.

The Orioles recalled right-handers Yaramil Hiraldo and Chayce McDermott from Triple-A Norfolk.

Hiraldo has a 5.65 ERA in 12 games for the Orioles. McDermott is 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in two games.

The Orioles claimed left-handed pitcher José Castillo off waivers from Seattle. Castillo is 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in 21 games with the Mariners, Arizona and the New York Mets. He has not reported.

Jordan Westburg, who was with Norfolk on a rehab assignment for his sprained right ankle, is with the team but hasn’t been activated.

Mansolino said Westburg would probably be the designated hitter on Tuesday and play third base on Wednesday and Thursday. He doesn’t want to play Westburg five or six days in a row.

Westburg is also the Orioles’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente award.

“My number one goal is playing this game is to use this platform for something greater than the game of baseball,” Westburg said.

Mansolino said catcher Adley Rutschman will go to Norfolk on Tuesday and play there this week. Rutschman is on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique.

Starting pitcher Dean Kremer, who missed his last start because of forearm tightness, will start on Tuesday.

“All the checkpoints … have gone really well, so we have zero concern where he’s at medically,” Mansolino said. “If there were any concern at all, he wouldn’t be going out there.”

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