Henderson promoted to active roster, Aguilar signed to minor league deal

CLEVELAND – The Orioles didn’t wait until Thursdays’ roster expansion to select infielder Gunnar Henderson’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

They did it early this afternoon, bringing up Henderson and optioning infielder Tyler Nevin to Norfolk.

Pitcher Denyi Reyes was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster.

Henderson, who’s wearing No. 2, could be in tonight’s lineup against Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie. We’ll find out later.

The first appearance will allow Henderson, 21, to become the youngest Oriole to make his major league debut since infielder Manny Machado in 2012. Machado was a first-round shortstop who switched to third base. Henderson is a second-round shortstop in 2019 who’s played all four infield positions in the minors, gaining experience on the right side this month.

The Orioles are tossing another top prospect into a pennant race. Confident that he’s going to handle it with the same confidence and skill as past promotions through the system.

Baseball America rates Henderson as the sport’s No. 1 prospect. He comes to the Orioles after batting .288/.390/.504 with 13 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts, 38 walks and 78 strikeouts in 295 plate appearances with Norfolk.

Henderson is eligible for the postseason if the Orioles make it.

The Orioles and Twins are three games back for the last wild card spot.

Left-hander DL Hall flew into Cleveland to join the taxi squad and can be added to the roster on Thursday. He’s already on the 40-man, and prepared for relief duty.

The taxi squad also will include first baseman Jesús Aguilar, who signed a minor league contract. He could join the expanded roster Thursday with the club trying to shake the offense out of its slumber.

Aguilar, 32, was released by the Marlins on Sunday after he batted .236/.286/.388 with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 113 games. He hit 35 homers and drove in 108 runs with the Brewers in 2018 and made the All-Star team.

Aguilar broke into the majors with Cleveland in 2014. He was guaranteed 7.5 million this season.  

The mutual option dissolved with his release.

Aguilar slashed .188/.246/.347 after the All-Star break.

Nevin is batting .196/.296/.261 in 56 games. Playing time has been scarce, especially with the Orioles facing a long line of right-handed starters. Nevin's last start was Aug. 20, and his last appearance came the following day. He had 11 plate appearances this month.

Reyes got into three games with the Orioles, making one start, and allowed two runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Jordan Lyles is coming off perhaps his finest start in 2022, holding the White Sox to one earned run in seven innings. He’s making only his third career start against the Guardians after allowing nine runs and 11 hits in 10 2/3 innings.

McKenzie has registered a 3.17 ERA and 0.955 WHIP in 24 games (23 starts). He allowed seven runs in his last four starts over 27 2/3 innings, with five walks and 29 strikeouts. He faced the Orioles on June 4 at Camden Yards and allowed five runs and three hits in seven innings.

Austin Hays, Rougned Odor and Trey Mancini hit home runs.

McKenzie, the 42^nd-overall pick in the 2015 draft, has held right-handers to a .199/.268/.397 line in his career, and left-handers to .188/.273/.341.