NEW YORK -- When Shane Baz was hit by a 105.1 mph liner on his right elbow in the fifth inning on Tuesday night -- leading to his removal from the Orioles’ 7-5, 11-inning win over the Mets at Citi Field -- there was concern. The 27-year-old right-hander was in visible pain, kneeling on the back of the mound for several moments.
However, it appears Baz avoided a significant injury.
X-rays were negative on Baz’s elbow, and the righty is optimistic that he’ll make his next scheduled start for the O’s.
“It just got me right in the bone,” Baz said. “Kind of just went numb. I really wish I could have stayed in and been able to grind through it. Just couldn’t really grip the ball. I think if I had maybe a few more minutes, I could have been all right. But I was just playing it safe.”
The comebacker came off the bat of Bo Bichette and deflected off Baz for a single. Baz was checked over by assistant athletic trainer Ben Fraser and manager Craig Albernaz, then attempted to throw a warmup pitch.
But Baz’s toss went to the backstop, as he then was taken out of the game.
“Barring anything weird playing catch, I think I’ll be fine,” Baz said. “The ball just kind of slipped out of my hand on that warmup. I just didn’t have full feeling back yet. It probably got my nerve a little bit, too.”
The Mets scored one run in each of the first three innings against Baz and had a 3-2 lead at the time of his exit. The righty gave up seven hits over four-plus frames in the 68-pitch outing.
“He was laboring there,” Albernaz said. “He was mixing his pitches a lot, was trying to get the changeup going and the cutter. He had a tough time feeling it. Giving up a run in each inning for the first three was tough. He did a great job of battling.”
Baz has a 4.11 ERA in 173 innings over 30 starts during his first season with Baltimore. He was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay last Dec. 19 and then signed a five-year, $68 million extension with the O’s on March 27 prior to his debut for the team.
If Baz avoids the injured list like he expects, he’d be in line to make two more starts for the Orioles (74-78) over the final 10 games of the season.