Left-handed reliever Nick Raquet never knows how long he’s staying with the Orioles. He just reports to the club, waits for the bullpen phone to ring and hopes he isn’t called into the manager’s office.

Raquet is back again, with the Orioles recalling him yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Cameron Weston. They acquired him from the Cardinals in an April 7 trade and optioned him on the 15th, recalled him May 2 and optioned him a day later, recalled him May 26 and optioned him a day later.

The Orioles needed a second left-hander in their bullpen and Raquet was given another opportunity. He’s made only four appearances with them, retiring the side in order last night in the ninth inning.

“This is my first time ever really being on a 40-man for the majority of the year,” he said. “Obviously, was on it for a little bit at the end of the year with the Cardinals last year, but didn’t really get to experience much of the up and down. But it’s good. It’s all part of it.

“I think being in the minors the last couple years, you’re kind of around some guys who are doing it, so you get a little bit of an expectation for it. Maybe going through it yourself is a little bit different, obviously, but it’s all part of it. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing. That’s what I try to tell myself on those long travel days. But it is true regardless.”

Keegan Akin is on the 15-day injured list with a sore elbow and he’s getting a second opinion next week from Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas. Grant Wolfram became the lone lefty reliever on the club, but Raquet wasn’t really tracking the roster.

“I try to just more like keep up with how the team’s doing,” he said. “Like how are we playing, we are we playing tonight, where they are. And honestly, just how the guys are doing. I’ve gotten to obviously meet more and more people as I’ve been here for almost half a year. So it’s just kind of like keeping tabs and just seeing who’s doing well, who’s hot, who’s hitting well, pulling for the guys that I’ve gotten to meet. It’s more fun to root for guys that you know, so that’s how I look at it more than anything else.”

More than counting left-handers in the ‘pen or how many relievers were used in a game.

“At the end of the day, I’ve still got to do my job wherever I am,” Raquet said, “so that’s kind of where I try to keep it, just kind of control what I can control.”

Raquet made himself a viable option for the Orioles by posting a 3.21 ERA in 22 games with Norfolk. He struck out 30 and surrendered only one home run in 28 innings. He allowed two earned runs in his last nine appearances totaling 11 innings.

“I feel like it’s going a lot better recently,” he said. “Kind of making some good adjustments, how I’ve been attacking guys, and it’s been great. Just trying to trust in a process, trust in a plan, and trying to go execute it.”

*Dean Kremer starts tonight, his fourth this season and second since his reinstatement from the injured list.

Kremer has posted a 3.18 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings. A major reason for his success is the .074 (2-for-27) opponent average against his splitter, the lowest in the majors.

The pitch has grown into a weapon, with opponents batting .139 against it in 2024 and .206 in 2025.

*Gunnar Henderson registered his 300th career RBI Sunday in Cincinnati, making him the seventh Orioles player to reach that milestone at age 25 or younger.

Here’s the list, courtesy of STATS:

1955-1962, Brooks Robinson, 327
1961-1967, Boog Powell, 463
1977-1981, Eddie Murray, 476
1981-1986, Cal Ripken Jr., 457
2006-2009, Nick Markakis, 362
2012-2018, Manny Machado, 465      
2022-2026, Gunnar Henderson, 300      

*Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward were two high-profile acquisitions in the offseason, the latter arriving first in a trade with the Angels. They’ve combined for 172 hits, the third-highest total prior to the All-Star break by any new duo in team history.

Ward and Alonso both have 86.

Shortstop Miguel Tejada (107) and catcher Javy Lopez (106) combined for 213 hits in 2004. Second baseman Roberto Alomar (115) and third baseman/outfielder B.J. Surhoff (78) combined for 193 in 1996.

Behind the Ward/Alonso duo are Ken Singleton (90) and Lee May (80) in 1975 and Eddie Murray (97) and Pat Kelly (71) in 1977.

*Zach Eflin underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on April 8, but he remains a constant presence in the Orioles’ clubhouse. Same locker and popularity with his teammates.

Manager Craig Albernaz shared one of Eflin’s humorous contributions to the club.

“I started smirking, laughing just because of one of Eflin’s talents that he’s been doing is dressing up the makeshift coffee spot we have now in the clubhouse,” Albernaz said. “He’s taken a big responsibility of providing the décor and images and illustrations for it. He’s done a great job. They’re really good.”

Albernaz went on to praise Eflin for being a pro and an “energy giver,” how he’s never in a bad mood, loves talking ball and being here for everyone. A great “sounding board” for pitchers and position players, keeping everything upbeat.

But back to the coffee spot.

Anything about the illustrations that Albernaz can pass along to the rest of us?

“Um, there’s a lot of images of (Ryan) Helsley and (Tyler) Wells,” Albernaz said. “It’s nothing obnoxious or anything, but it’s how it incorporates baseball, it incorporates both those guys and what they bring to the table on the baseball field. It’s pretty creative.”