Norby to be on taxi squad tonight as O's await further word on Mateo

MIAMI – As of the time of Brandon Hyde's pregame press update with the media this afternoon, the Orioles still do not know if infielder Jorge Mateo is headed to the injured list.

He collided with shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the third inning last night while going for a grounder up the middle. His left elbow got badly twisted and he left the game. Initial X-rays were negative, but Mateo was headed last night for further testing. He was not in the clubhouse today during the media access time.

“He’s got an MRI this afternoon. We’re awaiting results on that. He was getting tested last night and then today,” said Hyde. “So we’re hoping for the best, but the results haven’t come back yet."

Hyde said Connor Norby was not yet at loadDepot park.

“He is flying in. He’s going to be on taxi (squad) tonight,” said Hyde. “He’s flying in tonight. We’re waiting on Mateo’s results and other stuff, so he’ll be on taxi for tonight’s game.”

Right-hander Chayce McDermott (3-5, 3.96 ERA at Triple-A), the O’s No. 6 prospect per Baseball America and No. 7 via MLBPipeline.com, makes his big league debut this evening and will face the Marlins.

Will Hyde have anything to say pregame to McDermott?

“Just leave him alone and give him a pat on the back,” he said. “Honestly, there are so many nerves and a lot of adrenaline going on. With a guy making his major league debut, there is a lot to handle. So I just try to get him to feel as comfortable as possible. Like it’s any other start, which it is not, and hopefully they do well.

“Be great if he gave us a really good chance to win. He’s got the stuff to. I think the strike-throwing ability is going to be really, really important. This is an aggressive team, too. But hopefully he can command his pitches and stay in the game for a while.”

McDermott will wear No. 60 after wearing No. 97 in spring training. The last O's player to wear No. 60 was Mychal Givens in 2023.

Hyde was asked about the club’s recent offense. The O’s scored 17 runs in the first two games in Texas and have scored five runs the past two games.

“Little inconsistent for me,” he said. “Some guys kind of going through some stuff. First couple of innings, we swung the bat really well. You also have to give credit to these guys' bullpen. We faced three extremely tough left-handed relievers and didn’t get anything going. Yesterday I talked about how great our baserunning was and we ran ourselves out of two innings. So I’m not going to talk about how great our baserunning is today.

“But we are not going to be hitting homers all the time to score runs. We have to do the little things, take extra bases, hit behind runners, etc. Right now we are just in a little bit of a funk and I think we’re close to getting out of it.”

Hyde was asked his approach to the impending trade deadline. Will he talk to players about it?

“Pretty much leave them alone,” he said. “You know, everybody is so aware of what could happen. Everyone has phones and is reading stuff constantly, unfortunately. You hope it is not a distraction.

“Think we are in a little different position than my first couple of years here. I think there is more excitement – you read about us and you know, what possibilities and things like that, rather than a lot of your guys leaving. That is kind of double-sided. But my approach, honestly, is just to try and keep everything as normal as possible.”

Hyde said he is kept in the daily loop by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias.

“Mike does a great job communicating with me," he said. "Clueing me in on what’s kind of happening. Asks me questions sometimes about certain players. We have conversations about it every day."