Freddy Galvis has been placed on the 10-day injured with a strained right quadriceps, and he’s likely to miss significant time according to manager Brandon Hyde.
The shortstop injured the qua while legging out a bunt single in the second inning of Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo. He was carted off the field and had difficulty getting into a car that was transporting him for an MRI.
“It’s between a Grade 1 to a Grade 2, more like at Grade 1-plus, which means it’s going to be between a month and two months,” Hyde said.
“Hoping for the four-to-six weeks, but it could be a little longer depending on how the rehab goes, on how he’s feeling, but a significant injury. Tough day all around yesterday. Really going to miss Freddy here for a while.”
Galvis was hitting .246 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs. He has a .720 OPS.
The Orioles recalled infielders Ramon Urías and Domingo Leyba and outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk. They’ve optioned infielder Stevie Wilkerson and right-handed pitcher Konner Wade to the Tides.
Urías, who was hitting .246 with two homers and eight RBIs in 25 games with the Orioles earlier this season, is playing shortstop and batting eighth.
“I think we’re going to play the hot hand,” Hyde said. “Who’s ever playing the best. I don’t have a clear picture of what that’s going to look like. I’m going to give a few guys an opportunity and hopefully someone grabs it and plays really, really well into Freddy comes back.”
Pat Valaika, who’s not in the starting lineup will also get time at shortstop.
Leyba, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks on waivers on June 5, was hitless in 22 at-bats for Arizona this season. At Norfolk, Leyba was hitting .279 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.
He’s batting sixth and playing second base. Leyba, who will be the 44th player used by the Orioles this season, has played second, shortstop and third in his major league career.
“We just need to get a little bit healthier,” Hyde said. “We felt it was important to get some healthy bodies in here. We’re pretty banged up around the field. We have two or three outfielders right now that are playing through some things, and to add Ryan was important from that standpoint. We added two infielders just to get a little bit more flexible in the infielders.”
McKenna, who hit .195 with three RBIs in 33 games with the Orioles this season, is leading off and playing center field with Cedric Mullins getting a day off.
Austin Hays and Anthony Santander have been struggling with the aftereffects of their hamstring and ankle injuries, and Hyde can plug McKenna in. He’s also available as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner.
“I really appreciate those guys coming to my office almost on a daily basis, and saying, ‘hey, I want to play today,’” Hyde said. “That’s important. Adding McKenna, honestly gives us a little bit of flexibility there, too, where I’m not forcing somebody out there that we feel like needs a day off.”
Wilkerson hit .167 with two RBIs in 30 games this year. He’s in a 2-for-28 skid.
Wade made his major league debut on Saturday and allowed six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Wade’s optioning leaves the Orioles with 13 pitchers. They have off days on July 1 and 5.
“Things could change day-to-day, obviously. Things have changed a lot. Things happen unexpectedly,” Hyde said. Pitching-wise, sometimes you’ve got to scramble to make a move there…We’re hoping we can stay like this from a pitching standpoint, a least for a little while.”
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