BALTIMORE—Jackson Holliday had a series of tests on his right hand on Wednesday, and the Orioles’ second baseman said there was no further injury.
Holliday, who had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist in February, left his rehab game for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday after he struck out in his first at-bat and was in obvious pain.
“I guess everything is pretty normal,” Holliday said on Friday before the Orioles and Red Sox began a weekend series at Camden Yards. “Just trying to get the inflammation to calm down, I believe is the plan. Shut down for about a week and go from there.”
Holliday has had two rehab stints — one that lasted from March 27th-April 11th with Norfolk, and two games with High-A Frederick last Saturday and Sunday, where he went 2-for-8, and the one at-bat on Tuesday. He was shut down after the first rehab stint because of wrist soreness.
“Nothing too bad, nothing structurally wrong, just a couple of days off and get rolling again,” Holliday said.
He was in noticeable pain on Tuesday, and it scared him.
“It felt like I broke my hand again,” Holliday said. “Kind of concerning, taking a swing and having that kind of pain. It’s not normal, but nothing structurally wrong … It kind of freaked me [out], dealing with everything. Didn’t feel great.
“At first I was concerned and then about an hour or two [later], talking with some of the doctors, I became a little more eased out and confident that nothing was too wrong.”
In 14 rehab games, the 22-year-old Holliday is hitting .176 with four RBIs. He can have another 20-day rehab assignment when he’s ready. He’s not sure he’ll need that much time, but he’s also not sure when the hand will feel right again.
“I hope not,” he said about taking the full 20 days. “I’d love to be back here already. When I come back here, I want to feel great, and I know I’m going to deal with some things. I want to be able to be in a position where I’m confident going up to the plate and taking a swing without my hand feeling terrible.
“There’s where I want to be, going out there and having confidence with my swing as opposed to feeling a little bit timid.”
O’Neill, Kittredge return
The Orioles activated outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the 7-day concussion injury list and right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge from the 15-day injured list before Friday night’s game. Kittredge had inflammation in his right shoulder.
To make room for O’Neill and Kittredge, the Orioles optioned outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez to Norfolk and right-handed pitcher Jose Espada to Double-A Chesapeake.
Espada will pitch for the Baysox to enable him to pitch sooner.
Elias provides injury updates
Right-handed starter Dean Kremer is on the 15-day IL with a strained right quadriceps muscle.
“It’s not the end of the world in terms of an injury,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said. “It’s going to take some time. Our plan is to keep his arm in as good a shape as possible because it’s not bothering him too much to throw right now, but we’ve got to let that thing heal and get his lower body condition back. I don’t have a timeline yet, but it will be several weeks to say the least.”
Jordan Westburg’s is proceeding well, Elias said. Westburg has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He’s eligible to return on May 24th.
“He’s in Florida. He’s been hitting and throwing,” Elias said. “That’s moving along. We don’t have major updates on that, but it’s kind of no new is good news for now. Not at the point of announcing a rehab assignment, but the train kind of continues to move in the expected direction. So far, so good.”
Outfielder/designated hitter Heston Kjerstad remains on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.
“Kjerstad’s doing well,” Elias said. “Full baseball activities, hitting, throwing. He’s in Florida, not ready to announce rehab assignment dates with him. I feel like it’s around the corner.”
Reliever Yaramil Hiraldo is on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He had a second opinion on the shoulder this week.
“Hiraldo’s got basically an inflamed shoulder joint,” Elias said. “We’re making sure that clears out and we’ve got to build his arm strength back up, so it’s going to take a little bit of time, and that’s why I put hm on the 60, but I do expect him back in the early part of the year.”
Left-handers Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns have been at Norfolk rehabbing. Akin had a strained left groin muscle, and Enns a left foot infection.
“Akin has gotten through a few rehab assignments pretty well. I think it’s a possibility we see him pretty soon,” Elias said. “It should be a mater of days before we can maybe get him back on the team … I think with both of those guys, it’s more like days than weeks, hopefully.”
Manager Craig Albernaz said that closer Ryan Helsley, who’s on the family leave/bereavement list, should be back with the team this weekend.
Norfolk outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. is day-to-day with left hand soreness.
Saturday game time moved up to 12:05 p.m.
Saturday’s Orioles-Red Sox game has been moved from 4:05 p.m. to 12:05 p.m. due to the forecast of inclement weather. The first 20,000 fans receive an Orioles hockey jersey. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m.
Orioles-Red Sox starting lineups
Orioles
Gunnar Henderson-SS
Taylor Ward-LF
Adley Rutschman-C
Pete Alonso-1B
Dylan Beavers-RF
Samuel Basallo-DH
Leody Taveras-CF
Coby Mayo-3B
Jeremiah Jackson-2B
Brandon Young-RHP
Red Sox
Jarren Duran-LF
Ceddanne Rafaela-CF
Masataka Yoshida-DH
Willson Contreras-1B
Willyer Abreu-RF
Trevor Story-SS
Marcelo Mayer-2B
Caleb Durbin-3B
Carlos Narváez-C
Brayan Bello-RHP
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