Orioles Reliever Hunter Harvey Leaves Game with Injury

Orioles relief pitcher Hunter Harvey will miss time after suffering an oblique injury

During the eighth inning of Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Hunter Harvey suffered an injury to his left oblique. The injury occurred just one pitch into his outing, which was his third so far in the Grapefruit League season.

According to Roch Kubatko of MASN, manager Brandon Hyde spoke about his reaction to Harvey’s injury at his Zoom press conference following the game:

"“I heard him kind of groan and then double over…I was hoping for the best, I was hoping it wasn’t an arm or shoulder or elbow, something like that. But right away, I could tell by the way he was breathing that it was something in his side. It’s a left oblique, so it is what it is right now and reevaluate as we go along.”"

The Orioles drafted Harvey with the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. Since then, Harvey has suffered several injuries to his arm, including an elbow injury in 2015 that resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery the following year. Harvey missed time last season due to a forearm injury.

With Harvey projected to land on the injured list to begin the season, RosterResource projects Cesar Valdez, Tanner Scott, Travis Lakins Sr., and Dillon Tate to see opportunities as the team’s closer this season. According to Joe Trezza of MLB.com, Hyde is not expected to name an official closer, meaning the team will likely use a committee as RosterResource suggests.

Harvey recorded two scoreless innings this Spring, allowing three walks while striking out one of the eight batters he faced.