O's not expecting any letdowns after NY series win (plus the latest O's Hall of Famers)

CINCINNATI – The Orioles won a much anticipated series with the New York Yankees. They took three of four and they moved into first place.

Could they have a letdown as their latest road trip begins in cloudy Cincinnati tonight?

“Not with this group. I think this group comes to play every day," said manager Brandon Hyde this afternoon. "That being said, this a really good Cincinnati Reds team. They gave us everything we could handle and more last year. They are unbelievably athletic and we’re going to face three outstanding arms on the mound.”

Hyde today said there is no update yet on testing done on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who recently went on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

“Not yet, no. He’s still just kind of letting everything kind of calm down and we’ll hopefully start him back up here pretty soon,” Hyde said.

O’s outfielder Austin Hays is going to work out this weekend with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Hyde said he hopes Hays, on the 10-day IL since April 22, will play in some minor league games next week.

Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel has not pitched since Sunday against Oakland, and after that game the club announced he was dealing with tightness in his upper back.

Over his past two games, both in that Oakland series, Kimbrel has allowed three runs in 1/3 of an inning. But he warmed up Wednesday night and Hyde is ready to give him the ball again in the ninth.

“Yeah. If it was a save situation the last two days he was going to be in the game,” Hyde said this afternoon. “So, just didn’t happen. If things got dicey there in the ninth yesterday, I was going to have him ready to go in. So, if we have a save situation tonight, you’ll see him in there.

“You have to trust the player a little bit. Especially with somebody that has done it for so well for so long. When he feels like he is ready to pitch in a big spot, I’m going to believe in him. He felt that way a couple of days ago. So it’s going to happen soon.”

Earlier today Hyde got to tell Gunnar Henderson he'd been selected American League Player of the Month for March-April and Colton Cowser that he was AL Rookie of the Month. 

“Really cool to share the news with those guys. Well deserved by Gunnar and Colton," Hyde said. "Last couple of years it's been pretty cool that we’ve had a few individual awards. It has been a lot of fun to share with the team and have those guys recognized around the league. The growth in both those guys has been incredible.”

Play begins tomorrow in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League as it starts earlier than in previous seasons. When that season begins Saturday, the Orioles will have three players with the FCL O’s on minor league rehab assignments in infielders Terrin Vavra and Max Wagner and pitcher Jake Cunningham.

The O's announced today that Bowie right-hander Zach Peek has been transferred to the 60-day IL with a stress reaction of his right scapula.

Several O's prospects got recognition for their efforts with minor league affiliates, including Heston Kjerstad, who was recently called up to the big club. He was named Player of the Month in the International League. Norfolk lefty Cade Povich was IL Pitcher of the Month. This is the first time a team has swept the monthly awards in that league since Toledo did so in July 2021.

High-A Aberdeen catcher Creed Willems was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Month for the IronBirds. 

Hall of Famers: The Orioles Hall of Fame will have three new members later this summer. The club today announced that former right fielder Nick Markakis and former player and coach Terry Crowley have been elected to their hall. Additionally, former longtime O’s scout Dick Bowie will be inducted as this year’s Herb Armstrong Award winner.

The three will be recognized on Friday, Aug. 23, at a luncheon at Oriole Park hosted by the Oriole Advocates, founders of the Orioles Hall of Fame. The on-field induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, prior to the 4:05 p.m. game against Houston.

Markakis spent the first nine years of his career as an Oriole. He ranks among the all-time Orioles leaders in doubles (6th, 316), hits (7th, 1,547), extra-base hits (8th , 473), runs (9th, 749), and RBIs (10th, 658). He won two of his three career Gold Gloves in right field with the O’s (2011 and 2014). Markakis was Most Valuable Oriole in 2007, and his .994 fielding percentage ranks first all-time among major league right fielders.

Crowley had two stints as Baltimore’s hitting coach, spanning a total of 16 years, the second-longest coaching tenure in club history behind that of Elrod Hendricks. Crowley spent 12 seasons playing with the Orioles and was well known for his pinch-hitting ability. He was also the first designated hitter in O’s history on April 6, 1973. He appeared in three World Series as a player, two with the Orioles and one with the Reds, winning a title with each club. He also won a ring as hitting coach of the world champion Twins in 1991.

The Herb Armstrong Award is given to non-uniformed Orioles personnel. Bowie joined the Orioles as an associate scout in 1958 and was made a full-time area scout in 1968. He served 13 years as a full-time scout and was also Mid-Atlantic supervisor from 1978 until his passing on Aug. 31, 1981. He recommended the team sign Orioles National Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. as an infielder when others saw him only as a pitcher. He signed more than 100 players.