Injuries & Moves: Cowser breaks hand while striking out
With the Orioles' season over, keep track of all their offseason roster moves and injury updates here. As a reminder, players on the 60-day injured list must be added back onto the 40-man roster after the World Series. This page will be updated throughout the offseason.
LATEST NEWS
Oct. 2: OF Colton Cowser fractures left hand in Game 2 of AL Wild Card Series
Cowser was hit by a pitch on the left hand while striking out during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s season-ending 2-1 loss vs. the Royals in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series at Camden Yards. The 24-year-old rookie outfielder was plunked by right-hander Angel Zerpa, and it was later revealed that Cowser sustained a fracture. He departed the game in the seventh.
While Cowser should be healed by Spring Training, he was mostly disappointed that he struck out on the play. It was the second out during an inning in which the O’s loaded the bases with no outs and then didn’t score, keeping the game tied at 1.
“It’s sore. But [I'm] more disappointed in the result of what happened,” Cowser said. “Personally, it feels like I kind of let the team down there. Just get hit by a pitch there, we take the lead. It’s not a good feeling. Just sucks. That’s pretty much the only way to sum it up.”
RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right lat/teres strain)
Expected return: 2025
Rodriguez was shut down on Sept. 25, when manager Brandon Hyde announced that the 24-year-old right-hander would not pitch for the O's again in 2024, including the postseason. Rodriguez had been throwing routine bullpen sessions for much of September, but he had not advanced to the point of facing live hitters. Rodriguez had been on the IL since getting scratched 10 minutes before his scheduled Aug. 6 start at Toronto.
Rodriguez went 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings over 20 starts during his sophomore big league campaign. (Last updated: Oct. 2)
RHP Burch Smith (right adductor groin strain)
Expected return: 2025
Smith went on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 20 (retroactive to Sept. 18). The 34-year-old right-hander began to feel discomfort after throwing two scoreless innings vs. the Giants on Sept. 17, which led to the decision by the O's to place him on the IL.
Smith, who had a 5.74 ERA over 25 appearances after joining Baltimore's active roster on July 11, did not travel with the team to New York for its penultimate road series of the season. (Last updated: Sept. 25)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
INF Jorge Mateo (left UCL reconstruction surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Mateo underwent season-ending left elbow surgery on Aug. 28. The procedure was an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair, and it was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas.
The 29-year-old infielder was placed on the IL on July 25 (retroactive to July 24) after he partially dislocated his elbow when his left arm got tangled with Gunnar Henderson while they both attempted to field a single during the Orioles' July 23 series opener in Miami.
Mateo, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 30, had been wearing a brace on his left arm after the injury was sustained. Manager Brandon Hyde is hopeful that Mateo could be back for the start of the regular season in 2025. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
RHP Félix Bautista (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Spring Training 2025
On Aug. 14, Bautista threw a bullpen session at Camden Yards. It marked the first time the 29-year-old All-Star closer threw off a mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. However, there's still no chance for a return this October, with the O's focused on getting Bautista ready for Spring Training 2025.
"We're ruling out October. We're just going to steer things for next Spring Training and make sure we do everything right to get him ready for 2025," Elias said.
Bautista underwent right elbow debridement and an ulnar nerve transposition on Feb. 9 in Dallas. Dr. Keith Meister performed both the Tommy John surgery and the additional procedures. (Last updated: Aug. 14)
RHP Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half of 2025
Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery on June 19, ending his 2024 season after only eight starts. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, and also included Bradish receiving an internal brace -- the same type of hybrid procedure that Rangers ace Jacob deGrom received in June 2023.
Bradish battled elbow trouble all year. His first right UCL sprain was sustained in January -- when he also received a platelet-rich plasma injection -- and delayed the start of his season until early May. On June 14, Bradish experienced elbow discomfort during a start against the Phillies, exiting that game after five innings.
The Orioles will be without the 27-year-old right-hander -- who finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2023 and had a 2.75 ERA in '24 -- until the second half of the '25 season. Bradish was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 11. (Last updated: July 11)
RHP Tyler Wells (UCL repair surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Wells underwent right UCL repair surgery with internal brace augmentation on June 17 and was transferred to the 60-day IL two days later. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas. Wells did not get a second Tommy John surgery, which he previously had on his right UCL in May 2019.
Throughout May, Wells had been rehabbing at the Orioles' facilities in Sarasota, Fla. He began to play catch late in the month, but he continued to experience discomfort, according to general manager Mike Elias.
Wells didn't bounce back from his April 6 start at Pittsburgh the way he had hoped and said he felt discomfort during his April 12 outing vs. Milwaukee. He was initially placed on the IL on April 16. (Last updated: June 19)
LHP John Means (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Late 2025 or early '26
Means underwent Tommy John surgery on June 3 in Arlington, Texas. The operation was performed by Dr. Keith Meister. It is the second time Means has undergone the procedure, which he previously had in April 2022. He was then transferred to the 60-day IL on June 13.
On May 22, Means experienced discomfort in his left elbow during a start in St. Louis. The Orioles placed him on the IL the next morning, and the lefty flew back to Baltimore for additional testing. He later received a second opinion, which resulted in the decision to end his season.
“I’m going to take it day by day and do the best I can to get back and get it right this time,” Means said. “I still want to pitch, honestly. I’d like to fail on the field before I give it up. I feel like if I go out there I can still pitch.”
Means has made only 10 big league starts since the start of the 2022 season. He made four in September and then missed the postseason due to a flareup in his elbow, which also caused him to open the '24 campaign on the IL. He made only four starts again this season, and is a free agent this winter. More >> (Last updated: June 13)