Help is on the way for the injury-plagued Baltimore Orioles, as infielders are set to begin minor league rehab assignments on Thursday. The team announced that both players will join Triple-A Norfolk for a six-game homestand against the Nashville Sounds, though the duration of their rehab stints is uncertain. The Orioles expect both players to return before the regular season concludes.
Their return comes at a critical time for Baltimore, which has struggled in September. After holding a half-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East twelve days ago, the Orioles have gone 3-8 and now trail New York by four games. During that stretch, Baltimore’s offense has been largely ineffective.
His return is particularly significant. The 25-year-old third baseman, a first-time All-Star, has been out since July with a fractured right wrist after being hit by a pitch. His absence has been felt, with the Orioles’ lineup struggling to produce in his stead.
“We can’t wait to have him [Westburg] back,” said Orioles general manager Mike Elias. “We’re expecting him back before the end of the regular season, and things are progressing well.”
In the meantime, Ramón Urías had stepped up as Baltimore’s everyday third baseman and was one of their most productive hitters in August, posting a .260/.337/.521 line with five home runs and 17 RBI in 27 games. However, Urías went on the injured list with a sprained right ankle on August 31, further compounding the team’s struggles. Since losing both players, Baltimore has gone 6-9 and hit just .219 as a team.
With key matchups against the Yankees looming, the Orioles are hopeful that the returns of Westburg and Urías will help them push for their first back-to-back divisional titles since 1974.
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