Orioles notes on Wells, Vavra, Henderson, and more

Tyler Wells threw his first bullpen session this afternoon since experiencing soreness in his left oblique during a July 27 start.

Wells has been playing catch in the outfield. Today marked another important advancement in his quest to rejoin the Orioles pitching staff next month.

“Went well, felt really good,” Wells said. “Just another step in the process that we’ve kind of decided on was, feeling good enough to get out there. Felt really good, no issues, and just pleased with it.”

Wells called it a “normal” bullpen session, with more than just fastballs thrown.

“Today was a good feel day to just move down the mound and get a good feel for it,” he said.

“It’s kind of feeling everything out right now, making sure that I have a good foundation. It’s kind of like, when you throw flat ground and you’re throwing spins versus getting on the mound and throwing spins. You just want to be able to feel that slope because everything feels a little bit different. So, today was a good introduction to being back on the mound.”

Wells took manager Brandon Hyde’s advice and didn’t worry about tweaking the oblique or experiencing any sort of setback.

“Don’t think about it, because you don’t want to speak that into existence,” Wells said. “Everything I’ve been doing has been very confident. I’m not really thinking about this. I’m just thinking about what I normally think about on a regular day of catch and things that I’m working on. But the biggest thing for me is making sure we all communicate. The strength and conditioning staff, the trainers, have all been really good about monitoring my workload and my intensity.”

The Orioles will check Wednesday on Wells’ recovery from his session before deciding what’s next in his progression.

Hyde said he’s “definitely hopeful” that Wells is activated by next month.

“We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Hyde said, “and hopefully we don’t have any setbacks.”

Tonight’s lineup includes Adley Rutschman, Kyle Stowers and Terrin Vavra for the first time this season, the latter rejoining the club from the paternity list.

“We have a lot of lefties in there against (Dylan) Cease,” Hyde said. “A lot of homegrown guys and young players with some nice upside to them, and quite a test. They’re facing a really good starting pitcher, one of the best in baseball, and he’s got great stuff. Hopefully, we can take some good at-bats off him.”

Hyde is finding comfort in the additional left-handed bats on the roster, which he’s been missing for a large chunk of the season.

“Now we’re a lot more balanced offensively with being able to match guys up the best that we possibly can and give guys days off, also, especially this time of year,” Hyde said.

Vavra returned to the clubhouse as the proud father of 7 pound, 12 ounce Tatum, who was born late Friday night. Daughter and wife Carlie are doing well.

“Just happy that they’re back at home and happy to be here,” he said. “Now I get to get back to work.”

Carlie was sent home from the hospital Thursday after experiencing some labor symptoms, then returned later that night, after the Orioles finished their game against the Cubs. She was admitted around 2 a.m., and Vavra jumped on the next flight to St. Paul, Minn.

Vavra’s focus has been sharp since the Orioles recalled him. He expects it to remain that way, though he’s obviously missing his family.

“When you’re at the park, it’s easy to kind of think about baseball, and that’s my mentality throughout this whole season has been, when you’re at the park it’s all about baseball, and then when you go away you can get caught up and be there for Carlie. And now it’s kind of the same thing,” he said.

“There’s a little bit of stress off your shoulders knowing that the baby’s healthy and she’s here. Obviously, things could happen, but you can’t worry about it too much. It is nice knowing that she’s here, she’s healthy, and her mom’s healthy, and that’s a big weight off the shoulders, for sure.”

Perhaps Vavra can show off his dad strength tonight while batting fifth, if it actually exists.

"I hope so," he said. "I'll take any extra strength I can."

The Orioles have won 63 games, assuring that they won’t lose 100 games for the first time in a full season since 2017. An achievement that Hyde isn’t ready to celebrate with champagne corks flying.

“It’s not something I’m real proud of, so it doesn’t seem like it’s a real accomplishment, to be honest with you,” he said.

“You want to win as many games as you can, and for me, that’s a round number. I just don’t want us to stop. I want us to keep playing well and see where we are at the end.”

Gunnar Henderson is playing second base tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, which begins a six-game series in Jacksonville. Dashing the hopes of fans who were clinging to rumors of his imminent call-up.

Maybe it happens later this week, maybe after rosters expand in September. Hyde isn’t requesting daily updates.

“I think when you have the No. 1 prospect in baseball, everybody’s excited about him, and we’re looking forward to the day that he makes his debut,” Hyde said, “but right now I’m really focused on the 26 guys that we have in our clubhouse, and when the day comes that he’s here, then I’ll be excited about that. I do follow what our Triple-A team does, I follow what our Double-A team does, I know what our prospects are doing at the upper levels. Gunnar’s one of those and we’re excited about his future. But right now, for me, it’s about the guys we have in our clubhouse, and going to win tonight’s game.”

Infielder/outfielder Adam Hall has returned to Double-A Bowie from Norfolk. Pitchers Noah Denoyer and Nolan Hoffman were reinstated from the Baysox’s injured list.

Hyde offered a roll call of presidents that he’s met, with George W. Bush the most recent Sunday at the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa.

Winning a World Series with the Cubs gave Hyde the chance to meet Barack Obama “in his last week,” and a game the following year against the Nationals allowed him to meet Donald Trump.

Hyde crossed paths with Bill Clinton on a Miami golf course, and he met George H. Bush in Houston as a coach with the Marlins.  

“I’ve been really lucky,” he said.

Hyde will have to wait on President Joe Biden.

“Hopefully soon,” he said.

For the White Sox
A.J. Pollock LF
Luis Robert CF
Eloy Jiménez DH
José Abreu 1B
Yoan Moncada 3B
Gavin Sheets RF
Elvis Andrus SS
Josh Harrison 2B
Seby Zavala C

Dylan Cease RHP