MIAMI — Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo suffered a left elbow transient dislocation in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson during a 6-3 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, manager Brandon Hyde said after the club’s ensuing defeat Wednesday night. Baltimore placed Mateo on the 10-day injured list Thursday morning and recalled second base prospect Connor Norby from Triple-A Norfolk among a series of roster moves.
“He’s going to miss some time,” Hyde said of Mateo. “He’s going to get further tests. It’s really, really unfortunate. We feel terrible for him. But we’re going to miss him.”
Mateo, 29, injured the joint in the third inning Tuesday running into Henderson as the pair of infielders tried to get a glove on a ground ball up the middle. Mateo’s arm was caught awkwardly between Henderson’s leg and the ground, partially dislocating his elbow. The transient nature of the injury means his bones moved back into place and didn’t require any immediate surgery, though Mateo left the ballpark Wednesday night in an arm cast.
Hyde said Thursday it’s “too soon” to say if the infielder will eventually need to go under the knife. Mateo is seeking a second opinion and the team will wait for the swelling to subside before determining a timetable.
The veteran infielder has spent most of the 2024 season as the Orioles’ everyday second baseman. He’s slashed .229/.267/.401 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases in 68 games while playing stellar defense up the middle. His loss creates a void the Orioles filled by recalling Norby, who met the team in Miami on Wednesday as a member of the taxi squad.
Norby, 24, went 3-for-14 with a home run during his first stint with the Orioles last month. The 2021 second-round draft pick has put up a .297/.389/.519 slash line — good for a .908 OPS — with 16 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 80 games with Triple-A Norfolk this season. He was in the lineup, batting eighth and playing second base, for the Orioles’ series finale in Miami on Thursday.
“He’s going to get some regular playing time,” Hyde said of Norby, the Orioles’ No. 7 prospect according to Baseball America. “So, he’s going to be in there tomorrow and hopefully he can give us a little spark.”
In addition to recalling Norby, the Orioles also optioned right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott after he made his MLB debut Wednesday and recalled reliever Bryan Baker from Norfolk. Baker was originally sent down to make room for McDermott, but the Orioles were able to bring him back before the 10-day waiting period was up by recalling him as the official corresponding move for Mateo going on the injured list. McDermott would be eligible to return for his next start Monday when the Orioles are allowed a 27th man for their double header with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Jordan Westburg originally replaced Mateo at second base when he first suffered the injury and Ramón Urías took over at third. The Orioles kept them at those two positions Wednesday with Norby still en route to Florida and Mateo waiting for his MRI results, but the Orioles will now have the chance to get a look at Norby with the trade deadline six days away. It didn’t take him long to start making an impression; Norby homered in his second at-bat Thursday to help Baltimore win, 7-6, in 10 innings.
“I felt ready since the first time really,” Norby said before the game. “Been looking forward to that, and just stacking ABs from that time and felt like I’ve done my job in Norfolk and playing well there, and just hoping to continue that here.”
Top prospects Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo are also options in Triple-A should Mateo be absent long term. Holliday, who recently returned to playing second base in Norfolk after an elbow injury, is Baseball America’s No. 2 overall prospect, while Mayo, a corner infielder who has played first base of late with the Tides, is not far behind at No. 12.
