On Wednesday evening, the Baltimore Orioles added another name to the ever-growing disabled list.
No matter how you look at this season, the Baltimore Orioles cannot catch a break. They began the season with Gabriel Ynoa, Mark Trumbo and Zach Britton on the disabled list. Since April 7, they’ve added Colby Rasmus, Jonathan Schoop and now Tim Beckham.
Beckham, 28, is the most recent to hit the disabled list after a groin injury forced him out of a game against the Cleveland Indians on April 23. Against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco, Tim Beckham lined a one-out single to center field. He was replaced at second base by pinch-runner Luis Sardiñas after Manny Machado grounded a ball through the left side.
As reported by MASN’s Roch Kubatko, Tim Beckham is expected to miss six to seven weeks after core muscle surgery in Philadelphia. But, the surgery went well, and now Tim Beckham begins the road to recovery. Showalter updated the media before last night’s game about the recovery process for Tim Beckham:
"“He’ll be here tomorrow. Brian (Ebel) said he’ll start the rehab tomorrow. Actually plan to get out and do some walking tomorrow if he can. That’s the plan tomorrow.”"
Perhaps the injury was lingering and was causing his slow start at the plate? In 93 plate appearances through 23 games, Tim Beckham was hitting just .179. In the middle of a 4-for-32, Beckham went hitless in five straight before collecting three on April 19 in Detroit. Following that, he was hitless in three straight before his eighth-inning single on April 23.
Paving the way for Peterson
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The infield shuffle could be a new dance move displayed during the seventh-inning stretch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Over the Baltimore Orioles 25 games, they’ve had five different players at second base and two different at third base and shortstop. If you thought infielders were out of position as the season started, I can’t imagine what you’re thinking now.
Luck fell upon the Orioles though, as the New York Yankees designated Jace Peterson for assignment. Peterson had played in three games with the Yankees – one against the Orioles – this season before he was DFA’d.
Jace Peterson was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2011 and spent three seasons with the Atlanta Braves before they non-tendered him at the non-tender deadline.
Speaking with Jim Hunter yesterday before the game, Jace Peterson discussed how he felt after the Braves non-tendered him:
"“This game, it’s a business and I understand that and for me, when that happened it was kind of ‘on to the next.’ [I] thank the Atlanta Braves for everything they did, I appreciate my time there, but I’m excited about where I am now.”"
While Jace Peterson isn’t going to provide the relief to change the Baltimore Orioles season entirely, he had a decent debut with his new team. On Wednesday, in his first game with the O’s, Peterson went 1-for-3 with a two-run double. At the time, it gave the Baltimore Orioles the lead. However, they did go on to lose, 8-4. About his first hit as an Oriole, Jace Peterson said,
"“That was definitely kind of a relaxing moment to get that first one out of the way in a new uniform.”"
Next: The bleeding hasn't stopped yet
With the injury to Jonathan Schoop, Beckham moved to second base while Danny Valencia manned third. Now, with Beckham’s injury, Peterson has taken over at second. While Beckham recovers, the Baltimore Orioles can only hope there aren’t any more position player injuries. With their 6-and-19 start to the season, this team can’t afford any more injuries.