Catcher David Bañuelos made his major league debut last summer, receiving one at-bat, because he was on the taxi squad and the Orioles were forced into an injury-related roster move before first pitch. Bañuelos is on the IL with an oblique strain, but catcher Maverick Handley could get the same opportunity.

Backup Gary Sánchez went to the IL last night with right wrist inflammation. Manager Brandon Hyde described it later as “a little stress reaction in his hand.” The Orioles brought Handley to Baltimore just in case, put him on the taxi squad and selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Handley celebrated his 27^th birthday last month. He’s spent plenty of time in major league clubhouses since the Orioles chose him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Stanford University. He was a taxi squad regular before Bañuelos became more of a fixture, and he’s received spring training invites.

The No. 98 is more appropriate for a defensive lineman, but Handley is happy to be the first Orioles player to wear it. Now, he just needs to get it into a game.

Sánchez will be out at least 10 days. He’s off to a slow start with three hits in 30 at-bats and he’s struck out 12 times.

TORONTO – Orioles reliever Bryan Baker hasn’t been told anything.

Infielder Livan Soto hasn’t been told anything.

They have lockers in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Center and they participated in this afternoon’s workout. However, they didn’t receive confirmations that they’re on the Opening Day roster. Those conversations are on hold.

The assumptions are understandable, of course.

Matt Bowman and Roansy Contreras, the in-house competitors with Baker for the last bullpen spot, didn’t have lockers and they weren’t seen in the clubhouse or on the field.

Today’s Orioles activity centers on minor league depth.

The team announced that its signed catcher David Bañuelos and right-handers Yaramil Hiraldo and Rodolfo Martinez to minor league contracts for the 2025 season.

Bañuelos, 28, agreed to terms on Oct. 14, which I wrote about the following day. He could have become a free agent five days after the World Series, but the Orioles got an early start on negotiations.

The sides struck their first deal on Dec. 30, 2023 and Bañuelos spent most of this season on the Orioles’ taxi squad. He hopped on and off the 40-man roster a few times this season and received his first and only major league at-bat on April 16 against the Twins. He flied to right field in the ninth inning.

Appearing in only 22 games with Triple-A Norfolk, Bañuelos hit .225/.361/.352 with three doubles and two home runs. He’s playing in the Dominican Winter League.

The Orioles aren’t ignoring their minor league rosters and the building of depth. Their offseason business is spread widely.

Catcher David Bañuelos is staying in the organization on another minor league deal, according to an industry source. The agreement, completed last night, includes an invitation to spring training.

He could have become a minor league free agent five days after the World Series, but the Orioles started negotiations early.

The sides struck their original deal on Dec. 30, 2023. It didn’t take as long in 2024.

Bañuelos hopped on and off the 40-man roster a few times this season. His first and only major league at-bat came on April 16 against the Twins. He flied to right field in the ninth inning.

Only in the heat of a pennant race with the regular season down to the last 21 games could winning two of three from the Rockies and White Sox seem unsatisfactory.

They’re both painfully bad. The Orioles should have swept both series based on their talent and motivation. But the Rockies are better at home and the thin air messes with all logic. And the White Sox … well, there’s no excuse except that it’s the major leagues and no team is gonna go 0-162. It's bound to catch a popup.

Going 4-2 in the last six games is nothing to sneeze at, but please cover your mouth if you do.

I covered the 2002 Orioles who finished 4-32 under manager Mike Hargrove and they were more competitive than Chicago. Requests for comparisons have been brought to me. Also with the rebuild Orioles. Again, not this terrible.

Hargrove’s club was .500 on Aug. 23. I can think of 500 reasons why the White Sox didn’t get close. But I respect the effort Wednesday night, when they could have folded after Gunnar Henderson’s game-tying leadoff home run in the bottom of the first.

The Orioles' roster churn continued today in advance of the homestand opener against the Chicago White Sox.

The club selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Maton from Triple-A Norfolk and designated catcher David Bañuelos for assignment.

The Orioles acquired Maton, 27, from the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 7 for cash considerations. He has spent most of this season with Triple-A Norfolk but got into one O's game on June 20 at Yankee Stadium without an at-bat.

His wild ride this year saw the club designate him for assignment on March 26 and outright him to the minors five days later. On June 19 he was called up from the farm, but was DFAd on June 24 and outrighted back to Norfolk two days later. Now he is back on the Baltimore active roster.

He has played 180 career big league games between Philadelphia and Detroit and the one game with the Orioles this year. He was with the Phillies for parts of 2021 and 2022 and played in 93 games with Detroit last year.

After winning the first game of their series at Dodger Stadium, the Orioles lost the next two games, losing the series to the Dodgers. They need a win today to avoid the same fate at Coors Field.

The Orioles beat the Rockies 5-3 in the series-opener on Friday night, but they lost 7-5 last night. So the O’s and Rockies play the rubber match game to end this series and road trip. The Orioles are 8-5 in rubber match games.

At 78-59, the Orioles begin play today 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees. They are 39-29 on the road and 2-3 on this trip.

The Orioles have lost three of four, six of 10 and 11 of their past 19 games. The O’s are 20-21 since the All-Star game after going 58-38 in the second half.

The Orioles have now played 137 games:

Catcher David Bañuelos sat at his locker yesterday like pretty much every other day this season. In the clubhouse but not on the active roster. With the Orioles but only sort of.

Bañuelos is becoming a taxi squad lifer.

The former fifth-round draft pick of the Mariners has appeared in only five games with Triple-A Norfolk, which is carrying catchers Maverick Handley, Blake Hunt and Connor Pavolony. Handley is on the seven-day injured list, which led to Pavolony’s bump from Double-A Bowie.

Hunt was acquired from the Mariners on May 22 for reliever Mike Baumann and catcher Michael Pérez, who spent a brief period on the taxi squad.

Bañuelos hasn’t played for Norfolk since May 16 after appearing in both ends of a doubleheader the previous day. His other games go back to March 30 and April 3.

Jackson Holliday is headed back to the minors.

The Orioles announced today that they’ve optioned Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of outfielder Ryan McKenna.

Holliday made his highly anticipated major league debut on April 10 in Boston, but he couldn’t get onto a roll offensively. He went 2-for-34 with one RBI, two walks and 18 strikeouts in 10 games.

The hitless streak reached 13 at-bats before his single in the seventh inning on April 14 against the Brewers at Camden Yards. Holliday’s other hit came Wednesday afternoon in Anaheim with another single.

Baseball’s top prospect is getting a reset with Norfolk. The Orioles can explain later the timing of the move and potentially how long it could last.

The Orioles won again last night and are in first place in the American League East with a 15-7 record. Their 126 runs scored and .780 OPS lead the American League. Their 35 homers lead the majors.

And now, the mid-market rich get richer.

Outfielder Heston Kjerstad was recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk, bringing him back to the majors for the first time since the Division Series. Catcher David Bañuelos, activated yesterday from the taxi squad, was optioned to the Tides.

Kjerstad is the actual replacement for outfielder Austin Hays, who went on the 10-day injured list yesterday with a left calf strain retroactive to Sunday. He’s battering Triple-A pitching, hitting .349/.431/.744 with four doubles, 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 21 games. He’s also drawn 12 walks.

The first promotion came on Sept. 14, with the Orioles selecting Kjerstad’s contract. He went 7-for-30 with a double and two home runs.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – As the Orioles face lefty Reid Detmers (3-0, 1.19 ERA) in tonight’s series opener with the Angels, they will be a missing a couple of key right-handed bats.

At least to start the game.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is dealing with knee soreness and outfielder Austin Hays went on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain this afternoon.

The Orioles were seeing some positive signs with Hays’ bat. He is just 5-for-45 for the year, but had some loud outs recently and produced two hits his last four at-bats.

But any further progress will have to wait.

The calf soreness that removed Austin Hays from Saturday night’s game in Kansas City has landed him on the 10-day injured list.

Hays was diagnosed with a left calf strain, with the IL move retroactive to yesterday. He’s 5-for-45 with two RBIs.

The at-bats have improved of late, with a hit in each of his last two games and some loud outs.

Manager Brandon Hyde kept Hays out of yesterday's lineup. Asked later about Hays' status, Hyde said, "We're going to kind of see how he is tomorrow."

Hays hasn't caught a break since reporting to camp. He had a stomach virus in spring training and was under the weather in Pittsburgh.

Ryan O’Hearn had to think about it. Frozen for a brief moment while working through the riddle in his head.

The only at-bat this season against a left-hander?

“Did I get an at-bat against a lefty,” he asked.

We weren’t off to a promising start, but it suddenly came to him. One detail at a time until he had the full answer.

“Pittsburgh, sinker guy, in extra innings,” he said, reciting details as if playing Clue and choosing Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick.

The Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez this afternoon and he’s starting the series finale against the Twins at Camden Yards. He’s working on normal rest after making Friday’s start with Triple-A Norfolk.

Catcher David Bañuelos was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Bañuelos flied out last night as a pinch-hitter in his major league debut.

Suárez, who’s wearing No. 49, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2017 with the Giants. His last start was Sept. 23, 2016 in San Diego.

The Orioles reassigned Suárez on March 22, the same day that they also cut Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo and Connor Norby. He’s made three appearances with Norfolk, including one start, and allowed 10 earned runs (11 total) and 19 hits in 15 1/3 innings. Suárez has walked one batter and struck out 17.

Suárez, 34, signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on Sept. 15 after he spent the past five years pitching in Japan and Korea. He walked two batters and struck out 19 in 15 2/3 innings in spring training.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of C David Bañuelos from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 91 and his first appearance will be his Major League debut.
• Placed RHP Tyler Wells on the 15-day Injured List (right elbow inflammation), retroactive to April 13.
• Designated INF Livan Soto for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jackson Holliday will begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles announced this afternoon that prospects Holliday, Coby Mayo and Connor Norby were reassigned to minor league camp and outfielders Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers were optioned.

Right-hander Albert Suárez and catcher David Bañuelos also were reassigned. But Holliday is the big news.

Baseball’s No. 1 prospect batted .311/.354/.600 in 15 games, with three doubles, two triples, two home runs and six RBIs. He was vying for playing time at second base, with Gunnar Henderson entrenched at shortstop.

Today’s move with Holliday could signal that the team is keeping Ryan McKenna as a fifth outfielder or carrying second baseman Kolten Wong, whose opt-out date is today.