Baltimore Orioles injury report: Darren O’Day, Zach Britton and more

The Baltimore Orioles have six players on the disabled list. Look below to find out when big names like Zach Britton and Darren O’Day are expected back.

The Baltimore Orioles own the worst record in baseball, but with six players on the disabled list, they’re not exactly operating at full strength.

Two of the sidelined players are making $9 million or more this season, while two others are former first-round picks. Add their ailments to the early-season absences of Mark Trumbo and Jonathan Schoop, both of whom returned earlier this month, and you can see why the Birds are stuck in the cellar.

The good news is that some of these players are due back in the near future. Complications and delays will inevitably arise, but for now, these estimated return dates provide something to look forward to.

Check out these player updates, listed in order of when we can expect them back:

Darren O’Day, RHP

O’Day has been one of the Birds’ more reliable bullpen arms this season, but after giving up two hits and a run in his last appearance, he was placed on the 10-day DL with a hyperextended elbow. Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles expect him back as soon as he’s eligible, so look for his return early next week.

Colby Rasmus, RF

Rasmus was slashing just .095/.174/.143 when he went down with a hip flexor strain in the middle of last month, but given his .579 slugging percentage in 2017, he deserves a shot at redemption, especially with Anthony Santander and Craig Gentry manning right field. Fortunately, he seems close to returning — Buck Showalter said he’s “starting to do a lot of baseball activity,” per Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. Expect him back in the next couple of weeks.

Zach Britton, LHP

Britton’s absence has been a severe setback for the Birds’ relief corps, but you can’t pitch on a ruptured Achilles. Fortunately, the hard-throwing closer is progressing well in his recovery. Showalter recently indicated that Britton will begin his rehab assignment after he becomes eligible to come off the DL on May 28, putting him in line for a June return.

Tim Beckham, 3B

Two weeks after undergoing core-muscle surgery, Beckham is working hard to get back into playing shape. He has begun doing yoga and is reportedly in Philadelphia for his first follow-up, per Jon Meoli and Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. His 42 OPS+ isn’t much to look at, but the O’s could use a shakeup from the Danny Valencia-Pedro Alvarez tandem at the hot corner.

Luis Sardinas, 2B

Sardinas was placed on the DL late last month with a lower-back strain. There’s no timetable for his return, and with Jonathan Schoop back in action, he probably won’t see much playing time even if he does make a full recovery.

Gabriel Ynoa, RHP

Ynoa has been on the shelf since spring training, and per Roch Kubatko of MASN, he doesn’t seem at all close to coming back. We probably won’t see him until the second half of the season, if at all.

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Which of these players are you most excited to see return? Let us know on social media, and keep it here at Birds Watcher for more updates on the Baltimore Orioles.