Orioles’ Ryan Helsley provides pivotal injury update

While many are talking about the Baltimore Orioles ahead of the trade deadline, fans have also been waiting for any updates on the elbow injury to pitcher Ryan Helsley. As the Orioles reliever avoided surgery, he is still on the injured list (IL), as the pitcher provides an update on his recovery.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Helsley would say that his rest time “will be more extended,” according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. The reason it will be more “extended” is because the “time off he took last time didn’t work” in early May, as Helsley said it’s “logically” the best way to give the injury more time to heal.

“Just trying to make sure that it’s out of there. The only way, logically, is to give it a little bit more time.”

Last Sunday, Helsley would say that there wasn’t any ligament damage to his UCL, as he’s dealing with inflammation, which was similar to the last time he was on the IL, according to Andy Kostka. While not planning to throw until August, the positive news for the 32-year-old is that no surgery is needed.

More on Orioles’ Ryan Helsley and his injury

So far this season for the Orioles, Helsley has thrown a 4.11 ERA with 21 strikeouts and eight saves in 15.1 innings pitched.

Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz stresses that the team is “kind of just taking it slow with him and see where he’s at through the rehab process.”

“He’s in good spirits, as he could be,” Albernaz said, via MLB.com. “Obviously, he wants to be out there pitching with us, and he understands when he’s not out there, it’s a whole different look in the bullpen. He wants to be out there competing with us and with the boys. It’s just one of those things where he has to get ahead of it. You don’t want something really drastic to happen. So hopefully, we get the right process in place and rehab, and kind of see where we’re at.”

It remains to be seen when Helsley returns to the team.