Mullins back; Rogers set for debut today
Infielder Zoellner acquired from Phillies; Mariñez heading to rehab
Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins returned to the starting lineup for Monday night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays after missing Sunday night’s game with a sore hip flexor. He started and batted leadoff.
Manager Buck Showalter said Mullins tested his hip before the Orioles took batting practice Monday and Showalter spent the day gaining valuable information from coaches in the minor league system who had Mullins for an extended time.
“You’re familiarizing yourselves with players,” Showalter said. “[Head athletic trainer] Brian [ Ebel] and him were out there running and hitting and moving around, we think. We’ll see, once the speed of the major league game. I don’t know for sure, but we think so.
“I was talking to someguys in our system whohad himalot today [to] try to get a feel. Someguysarereal upfront and frank with you. Some guys might mask some things. Just trying to get a feel from people who’ve had himfor100-plus games. So you can make good decisions on things like this. I think so. We’ll see.”
Mullins is a player who relies on his legs. Last season, he was slowed by a hamstring injury, but he came into this season healthy and had a breakout season at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk before earning a big league call-up Aug. 10.
Mullins entered Monday having hit safely in 10 of his 15 starts, including five multihit games, and had a .896 OPS. Mullins Rogers to start tonight: Showalter announced after Monday night’s 7-0 win over the Blue Jays that left-hander Josh Rogers will start tonight’s game against Toronto.
Rogers, who was scratched from his scheduled start tonight for Norfolk, will have his contract selected today and make his major league debut.
Right-handed reliever Cody Carroll was optioned to Norfolk after Monday night’s game to make room on the roster for Rogers.
Rogers, who is one of the three players the Orioles received from the New York Yankees in the Zach Britton deal, has pitched well in five starts since joining the organization, going 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and allowing just 26 hits in 301⁄ innings. Rogers, 24, has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all five of his starts with the Tides, including quality starts in each of his first three starts. Team trades for minor leaguer Zoellner: The Orioles made a minor trade Monday, acquiring.infielder Jack Zoellner from the Philadelphia Phillies for an international bonus slot of undisclosed value.
After acquiring international bonus slots at the nonwaiver trade deadline — amassing the ability to spend roughly $8 million in international free agents — this is the first time this signing period the Orioles have used the slots as a trade asset.
Zoellner, 23, an 11th-round pick by the Phillies last season out of the University of New Mexico, was playing for Philadelphia’s Gulf Coast League team, hitting .236/.364/.422 with seven homers and 42 RBIs in 46 games.
“Jack Zoellner should be a good addition to our system,” Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a text message. “He is a capable left-handed hitters with good on-base skills and power.”
Zoellner is reporting to the Orioles’ GCL team based in Sarasota, Fla. Mariñez returning to rehab assignment: Right-hander reliever Jhan Mariñez was brought to Baltimore over the weekend to potentially be activated from the disabled list, but Showalter said he will likely go back on a rehabilitation assignment.
“I believe he’s getting ready to leave,” Showalter said. “He’s on rehab. Talking with [Duquette], he needs to get back and continue his rehab assignment.”
Mariñez has been on the DL since Aug. 3 with a right hamstring strain. He made one rehab appearance in the Gulf Coast League and another for Norfolk, pitching a scoreless relief inning in each outing, before he was summoned to Baltimore.
Mariñez, who spent most of the season in Norfolk, made just eight major league appearances with the Orioles before going on the DL, finishing with a 5.63 ERA while allowing an opponents’ batting average of .310. Around the horn: Showalter lauded how right-hander Yefry Ramírez has pitched in a relief role. Ramírez pitched three scoreless innings in long relief Sunday and provided five scoreless innings in his only other relief outing June 28. … After Trey Mancini struggled defensively at first base Saturday, Showalter said he was tempted to get Mancini back out at first Monday, but instead likely will do so over the next few days. “I think Trey’s going to be fine over there,” Showalter said. “He positions himself well and he’s always engaged. There’s a certain fluidity and comfort that you get from being there every day.”