Orioles DFA Jahmai Jones, Cody Sedlock poised for debut

BOSTON – The Orioles designated infielder Jahmai Jones for assignment this morning to create room on the 40-man roster for pitcher Cody Sedlock, whose contract they selected from Triple-A Norfolk.

Sedlock is in the bullpen for today's doubleheader. Jones is in limbo a day after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Jones was acquired from the Angels on Feb. 2, 2021 for starter Alex Cobb. He appeared in 26 games last season and went 10-for-67 (.149) with a .402 OPS.

Reliever Beau Sulser was optioned after allowing two runs and seven hits last night in three innings. Denyi Reyes is the 27th man for the doubleheader after the Orioles recalled him, and manager Brandon Hyde said the right-hander probably will start the nightcap.

The plan would change if Reyes, set for his first major league start and second appearance, is needed in relief for the opener.

Sedlock is poised for his major league debut after the Orioles made him the 27th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of Illinois. He’s been slowed by injuries and struggles in the minors - doctors diagnosed him in 2018 with thoracic outlet syndrome, a compression of nerves in the shoulder area that can cause numbness in the fingers - but he got the call to join the taxi squad in Boston and had his contract selected today.

“Happy to give him the opportunity,” Hyde said. “Talked to him this morning, had a big smile on his face. So, good to see him, and what a great place to make your debut. What a cool environment. Happy for him and his family.

“He’s a former high-round pick that’s had adversity along the way, and it shows you what kind of guy he is to be able to stick with it and continue his career. Now he’s reached his goal of being in the big leagues. I know it’s a great day for him. Happy for him and it’s a great story, and hopefully he can pitch well for us.”

Sedlock’s wife Chloe and their young son are in Boston. Arrangements were made just in case he came off the taxi squad. Don’t take any chances, especially after infielder Rylan Bannon was a sudden activation from the taxi squad in St. Louis.

“It’s been incredible,” said Sedlock, who’s wearing No. 73. “She’s been through everything from being in the La Quinta in 2018, hurt all summer, to minor leagues, everything. She’s been right by my side, and to have our little boy with us here, too, it’s going to be cool.”

Norfolk manager Buck Britton told Sedlock about the Orioles’ plan for the noon game.

“(Britton) was like, ‘Hey, you’re going to Boston on the taxi squad and we don’t know if you’re going to get activated or not. Flying out tomorrow night,’” Sedlock said. “So got a flight, some crazy delays with all the weather and got in about 11, bags got in about 1 a.m., and thankful that my wife and son and family are able to be out there, too.”

Sedlock found good health and some success moving between the rotation and bullpen. He posted a combined 2.84 ERA and 1.200 WHIP in 22 games (16 starts) between Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick in 2019, but didn’t pitch in 2020 with the minor league season canceled due to the pandemic.

“It’s been a very long road, and to be told that I’m activated, it just goes back to all those times in 2017 and 2018 where I didn’t know if I was going to keep playing,” said Sedlock, who had a 5.83 ERA this year in 29 1/3 innings with Norfolk and struck out 35 batters. “I’m so grateful to be at this point. I’m very, very proud of everything. It’s a surreal moment.

“If someone said there weren’t doubts, they’d be lying to you. But as soon as those doubts come, you dig deep. All the past failures that you’ve had, and how it’s led you to get to where you are today. To go through all those struggles and the injuries, everything, and the low points, to get back to where I am today, I don’t see anything that I can’t come back from now. I can hold that for the rest of my life.”

Spenser Watkins played catch today from about 70 feet, a low-effort session that he said didn’t cause any pain in his right elbow or forearm. He’s just experiencing some normal stiffness.

For the Red Sox
Enrique Hernández CF
Rafael Devers 3B
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Alex Verdugo LF
Christian Arroyo 2B
Franchy Cordero 1B
Kevin Plawecki C
Jackie Bradley Jr. RF

Nathan Eovaldi RHP