DENVER — The Orioles placed infielder Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right ankle sprain he suffered during their 7-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.
With the move corresponding with the Sept. 1 active roster expansion date, the Orioles also recalled infield prospect Coby Mayo from Triple-A Norfolk, activated right-hander Zach Eflin to start Sunday’s series finale and selected catcher David Bañuelos’ contract. They designated outfielder Forrest Wall, claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, for assignment to clear a spot on their 40-man roster.
Right-hander Dean Kremer, who also left the game Saturday after taking a 103.1 mph comebacker off his forearm, remained on the active roster. The team announced that X-rays came back negative on a fracture and he was diagnosed with a right forearm contusion.
“Kind of a disappointing night,” said Orioles first base coach Anthony Sanders, who spoke to the media pregame Sunday in place of manager Brandon Hyde. “But just really worried about Dean and Urías, and then especially him getting tipped with the nose and then now the ankle after that. Just got to cross our fingers and just hope that we can just stay healthy down the stretch.”
The Orioles also announced a pair of updates on relievers who were recently designated for assignment. Left-hander Nick Vespi cleared waivers and was assigned to Norfolk. The Toronto Blue Jays claimed right-hander Dillon Tate, putting an end to his seven-year run with the organization.
Urías is the latest in a long string of players to hit the IL for the Orioles this season, and his loss will be felt by the lineup after he slashed .260/.337/.521 with five home runs and 17 RBIs as an admirable replacement for injured All-Star Jordan Westburg. Mayo will look to produce similar results, arriving for his second stint in the majors after he went 1-for-17 earlier this month.
“I was on the plane and, obviously, I saw what happened after the fact,” Mayo said. “But he was obviously doing very well and I’m bummed for him because it’s probably his best point of the season but yeah, obviously these guys probably need me to step up and I’m just going to do my best and play hard and no pressure. Just do what I can do.”
Mayo, 22, is the Orioles’ No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline’s organizational rankings. The 2020 fourth-round pick has smashed Triple-A pitching this season, hitting .293 with 22 home runs and a .943 OPS in 87 games. Hyde penciled him in at third base Sunday, batting sixth in their lineup. Mayo has also played first in Norfolk and could see some time there while Ryan Mountcastle is on the IL with a wrist injury.
The Orioles also get a boost from the return of Eflin, who missed the minimum 15 days recovering from right shoulder inflammation. Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline, Eflin has a 2.15 ERA with 25 strikeouts in four starts for Baltimore. With Kremer’s health in question, Grayson Rodriguez working his way back from right lat/teres discomfort and fellow starters Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells all out for the season, the Orioles will need Eflin to pick up right where he left off for the September stretch run.
Bañuelos, who was on the Orioles’ taxi squad, rejoins the active roster for the third time this season. Wall went 4-for-11 with a home run and five RBIs in three games with Norfolk.
