BALTIMORE – Hall of Fame pitcher and current MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer has been diagnosed with myelitis, an infection of the spinal column, he said Friday in a tweet. Palmer said the condition was caused by the shingles virus, calling it the reason he was out of the booth for Friday’s Orioles game against the Rangers.

Palmer, 73, did not reveal when he plans to return to broadcasting. He thanked the club’s medical team for suggesting he undergo an MRI, which resulted in the diagnosis. Mike Bordick replaced Palmer on color duty Friday, alongside play-by-play man Gary Thorne.

“I’m out of the booth due to a rare infection in my spinal column caused by the Shingles virus,” Palmer tweeted. “VERY thankful for O’s team docs and trainers who told me to get MRI ASAP ... showed Myelitis. I’m still watching O’s and tweeting with you!!!!”

The winningest pitcher in Orioles history, Palmer is in his 27th season as an analyst on the club’s television broadcasts and 56th as a member of the organization. Prior to joining the Orioles as a broadcaster, he served as an analyst on ABC from 1978-95, calling Monday Night Baseball, All-Star Games, several MLB postseasons and 15 years of the Little League World Series.

Palmer previously provided analysis on Orioles broadcasts for Home Team Sports and WMAR-TV, after his 19-year playing career, spent exclusively in Baltimore.

The Orioles tweeted “Get well soon, Jim!” from their official account.