The Baltimore Orioles have announced a four-player swap on July 25, featuring Connor Norby (No. 5 prospect) getting recalled in place of Chayce McDermott (No. 7 prospect) who’s being optioned fresh off of his MLB debut.
The team announced the move on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 25.
We have made the following roster moves:
Norby won’t take the mound to pitch, but he’ll take McDermott’s place on the 40-man roster.
Relief pitcher Bryan Baker returns after being optioned on July 24. And he only does so, so quickly, to take the place of an injured player. Jorge Mateo will head to the 10-Day Injured List with left elbow subluxation.
Baltimore skipper Brandon Hyde told reporters on July 25 that Mateo will be out “for a while.”
“It’s gonna be a while right now,” Hyde said, according to MLB.com’s Paige Leckie. “It’s so swollen and sore that it’s gonna take some time trying to get the swelling out, and then he’s gonna get some second opinions.”
Baker and Norby will both be active for the series finale against the Miami Marlins, with the latter getting the start at second base.
McDermott on MLB Debut: ‘Disappointed A Little Bit’
McDermott is being optioned after one game, his MLB debut. He pitched four innings against the Marlins, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, and throwing 3 strikeouts.
The 25-year-old righty spoke with reporters about his performance postgame.
“Disappointed a little bit,” McDermott said on July 24. “Didn’t execute some pitches. Wanted to give the team a chance to win. I think that is the main reason everyone is here and I didn’t feel like I really did that so, there was a little bit of disappointment. But I felt like I handled myself pretty well at the same time and just a chance to learn.”
McDermott didn’t return for the fifth inning, with Baltimore down 3-0, and already having thrown 82 pitches. Still, Hyde commended the rookie on his debut after the loss.
“I thought he threw the ball well, especially early,” Hyde said on July 24. “Thought the stuff was good, kind of ran into a lot of pitches there in that fourth inning. Put some abs against him, had a hard time finishing guys. But I thought the stuff was good, and I thought he did an okay job.”
And after the rookie was optioned back to Triple-A, Hyde said he’s likely to return, and soon.
“But we have some things coming up, a doubleheader with Toronto,” Hyde said on July 25, according to Steve Melewski of MASN Sports. “We’re going to need Chayce again. Probably see him soon.”
Hyde spoke similarly of Cade Povich after his MLB debut. He went on to appear in seven games before being optioned. McDermott will hope to see the same opportunities.
Hyde: Norby To See ‘Regular Playing Time’
Norby will make a second appearance with the Orioles after playing four games from June 3 to June 8. He went 3-for-14 with two singles and a home run in his debut stint.
Hyde told reporters after the 6-3 loss to Miami that Norby should see “regular playing time.”
“He’s going to get some regular playing time,” Hyde said on July 24. “He’ll be in there tomorrow. Hopefully he can give us a little spark.”
Norby progressed with each game that passed, although he appeared in just four of six possible games. He’s ready to pick up where he left off and says that his four-game stint taught him that he can be an everyday MLB player.
“That I can play here,” Norby said on July 25, according to Melewski. “I still think there is another level to me. As crazy as that sounds at times for me. But I think think there is more in the tank. Trying to be as consistent as I can but the biggest thing here is helping us win games. But the biggest I learned is I can play at this level.”
Baltimore is 60-41, and 3-7 in their last 10. They’ll look to reverse course with Corbin Burnes on the mound and Norby back in MLB in their series finale against the Marlins.
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Orioles Swap Top-10 Prospects in MLB Roster Move