Notes on Valaika, Santander, Galvis and Wells

There isn't much news to report from the Orioles as afternoon moves into evening.

Pat Valaika is out of the lineup again tonight in Detroit, his last start coming Sunday against the Nationals. He played an inning last night.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Valaika is fine physically.

"I'm just giving (Domingo) Leyba some opportunities against right-handed pitching," Hyde said on his Zoom call.

Valaika hit a home run on July 21 and two more the following game. He had a single and RBI in Sunday's win.

Outfielder Anthony Santander worked out again today after clearing COVID-19 protocols. He's taking batting practice, throwing, running and performing defensive drills "to get him on his feet again," Hyde said.

"Possibly he'll be joining us here in the next day or two," Hyde said.

Keegan Akin recovered well from yesterday's bullpen session and the Orioles will decide within the next few days whether to return him to the active roster, and if so, in what role.

Santander didn't confirm today via interpreter Ramón Alarcón whether he's been vaccinated, saying on his Zoom call, "That's a really personal question at this moment that I don't feel comfortable answering right now." Pretty much the same answer given by Akin.

Asked about the circumstances that led Santander to the COVID-19 list, he replied, "Something just came up. I was following the protocols that the league established and I had to leave for seven days."

Santander remained in quarantine in Miami and drove to Baltimore after receiving clearance. He worked out in his room with exercise bands.

The interruption came with Santander batting .231/.280/.387 in 62 games and playing on a sore ankle that he sprained in April. He doubled twice in his most recent start on July 20.

"I'm going to take the positive out of this," he said. "I think it was very beneficial for my ankle, definitely feels so much better now. And this is a game of adjustments. I just need to adjust accordingly as quickly as they're adjusting to me and hopefully I can get back in action and help the team as quickly as possible.

"I was able to practice today 100 percent. I ran, I hit, it felt great. Now I'm just waiting to get back. It's really up to them whenever they want to activate me either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I'm ready to go."

Shortstop Freddy Galvis is getting at-bats in Sarasota, Fla., and making progress in his recovery from a strained quadriceps.

Rule 5 reliever Tyler Wells, on the injured list with right wrist tendinitis, has played catch the last two days and scheduled to throw a bullpen session in the next few days.

"Then we'll reevaluate from there," Hyde said.