Orioles injury updates on Rodriguez and Hays

WASHINGTON – Grayson Rodriguez is playing catch and reporting no discomfort in the right shoulder that forced him onto the injured list with inflammation on April 30.

“Feeling good,” he said today. “Just wanted to take some time off. Obviously had some shoulder inflammation. So really just missing a start or two and then right back at it.

“Just a little bit of soreness. We wanted to be a little bit on the cautionary side, just make sure it didn’t turn into anything more than what it is.”

Rodriguez is doing some light tossing on flat ground. He doesn’t know whether he’ll require a rehab assignment but is optimistic that he can avoid it, saying, “Personally, I don’t think so, but that’s not for me to decide.”

“Hopefully be ready whenever the 15 days is up,” he said.

Rodriguez said he felt some extra soreness, “nothing too crazy,” after his last start, when he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees and tied his career high with 101 pitches. He’s 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 34 innings.

“Obviously being early in the season, we just wanted to make sure that we had it under control now,” he said, “and not let it turn into something worse.”

Manager Brandon Hyde said Rodriguez will throw a bullpen session within the next few days.

“He’s feeling good, he’s been playing catch,” Hyde said. “I’m not sure exactly the date he’s going to be coming off the IL. A lot of it is going to be from the progression standpoint of the side, recovering from the side. But it all looks good right now and hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

Outfielder Austin Hays starts his injury rehab assignment tonight in Double-A Bowie. He’s on the IL since April 22 with a left calf strain.

“I think we’d like to get him some at-bats,” Hyde said. “It is a calf, so we’re kind of building a little bit. He’s going to play, like, five innings tonight or so and then gonna be a little bit lower workload day tomorrow and then kind of build him up. But I’d like to see him get as many at-bats as possible.

“I’m not sure how long it’s gonna be, but it shouldn’t be too long.”

The Orioles would like Hays to heat up at the plate after his 5-for-45 start, but it isn’t a simple task in the minors.

“In rehab at-bats, it’s kind of tough,” Hyde said. “He hasn’t faced live pitching in a while. It’s more about the calf and feeling healthy, but also seeing live pitching, and hopefully he can come back ready to go for us.”

Infielders Terrin Vavra and Max Wagner had their injury rehab assignments moved to High-A Aberdeen. Infielder Nick Maton returned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Aberdeen pitcher Teddy Sharkey went on the injured list with back soreness.

For the Nationals

Jacob Young CF
CJ Abrams SS
Luis García Jr. 2B
Nick Senzel DH
Jesse Winker LF
Joey Meneses 1B
Keibert Ruiz C
Eddie Rosario RF
Trey Lipscomb 3B

Trevor Williams RHP