Orioles recall Gillaspie and option Bannon (plus lineups and notes)

The Orioles doubled down on their earlier roster move that promoted left-hander Nick Vespi to the majors.

Pitcher Logan Gillaspie was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon to increase bullpen depth during a rough stretch of games. Infielder Rylan Bannon was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Gillaspie, added to the 40-man roster after the 2021 season, has made nine combined appearances between Double-A Bowie and Norfolk and registered a 3.14 ERA and 1.186 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. He surrendered two runs in 6 1/3 innings with the Tides.

“Another guy on our 40-man roster that we want to take a look at,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Didn’t see him much in spring training. Kind of an unusual story. Remember talking to him in camp. I just saw him for two seconds before I came in here, so haven’t had a chance to speak with him much, but he started the year in Double-A, pitched well, been doing a fairly good job in Triple-A, and we needed the innings.”

Vespi, 26, and Gillaspie, 25, are awaiting their major league debuts.

“Just feel like we’re in that tough stretch right now where we need the extra arm, and facing really good lineups without an off-day coming up soon,” Hyde said. “We just felt like we need an extra arm and a guy who can give us a few innings out of the ‘pen.”

Vespi, chosen in the 18^th round in the 2015 draft out of Palm Beach State College, didn’t allow an earned run and struck out 21 batters in 14 1/3 innings. He has a 2.91 ERA and 1.095 WHIP in seven minor league seasons.

“He’s pitching lights out at Norfolk,” Hyde said. “It’s nice to see somebody that has gone down and really dominated a level and earned his way here, which Vespi has. Excited to get a left-hander in the bullpen. I liked his stuff in spring training. I think it’s a little bit unusual, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it works up here.”

Bannon was 2-for-14 with five strikeouts in his first major league exposure.

“I just hope he appreciated, and he did, the opportunity and made his debut in Busch Stadium, so a day he’ll never forget,” Hyde said. “Just go down and keep working hard and try to put up numbers, and hopefully we’ll see him back up here some time this summer.”

Jorge Mateo isn’t in the lineup, but Hyde hopes the shortstop can be available off the bench and start Wednesday night. Bannon’s departure is an indication that the team expects him back shortly.

Logan Allen made three appearances with the Orioles before they designated him for assignment today to make room for Vespi.

“I think in this game, with roster movement, you have to make quick decisions on people sometimes,” Hyde said. “With only 40 men on your roster with all the moving parts we have right now, as well as we’ve had in the past, sometimes it’s what you have to do. Got to make moves to get people on the 40-man, get people off the 40-man. Sometimes, they get a fair evaluation, sometimes maybe they don’t ... whatever’s best for Logan, I hope that’s what happens, but if he can stay in the organization, that would be great. Hopefully, we’ll see him back up here at some point.”

Ryan Mountcastle said today that he could come off the injured list Saturday. The discomfort has lessened in his left wrist, and an MRI yesterday didn’t show any damage.

Mountcastle will need to take some swings for a few days before the Orioles activate him.

“It’s feeling better, it’s progressing well, so hopefully I’ll be ready for, I think Saturday is the day I come off, so hopefully I’ll be ready for then,” Mountcastle said.

“From my thumb, it shoots through my wrist, through the middle of my forearm, so it’s like a tendon or something that goes through there that got aggravated or something. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know anything medical. They gave it a long wording that I don’t remember what it was. But nothing was ruptured, which is really good.”

Mountcastle won’t need to go on a rehab assignment in the minors.

“I think I’ll be fine,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a crazy amount of time. I think I’ll be all right.”

The Orioles have lost four games in a row while Mountcastle is confined to the trainers’ room. He tried to play through the pain in St. Louis and finally gave up, saying, “It was killing me.”

“Losing’s obviously never fun,” he said, “but when you’re not even out there trying to at least help out, it makes it even worse.”

John Means showed up in the clubhouse this afternoon with his left elbow in a brace and a smile on his face.

Means, who underwent Tommy John surgery on April 27, talked to a few teammates and said he was happy to still have his locker.

“Great to see his face and great for him to be around,” Hyde said, “and I know the guys were pumped that he’s coming in today.”

Austin Hays is in the lineup for the first time since Thursday in St. Louis. He’ll wear a batting glove on his left hand to protect the stitches.

“He says he feels good,” Hyde said. “It went well yesterday, him hitting in the cage. He’s hitting for the first time out on the field today. But I’m sure it’s not going to be 100 percent comfortable. It’s scraped up pretty bad still ... hopefully, he can grind through it and give us a little bit of a spark offensively.”

Dean Kremer begins his injury rehab assignment Wednesday at Double-A Bowie. It’s the beginning of a progression that will carry him to Norfolk before the Orioles consider activating him.

“It’s going to take a while,” Hyde said.

Pitcher Matt Harvey, who’s been starting games at extended spring training, has received a 60-game suspension without pay for participating in the distribution of a prohibited drug of abuse in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program while playing for the Angels. The start date is retroactive to April 29.

The suspension stems from Harvey’s testimony during the trial of former Angels employee Eric Kay following the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Harvey is allowed to work out at the spring training complex and pitch in simulated games on the back fields after the Florida Complex League season begins.

The Orioles issued a statement from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias:

“We support all aspects of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and their ruling in this particular case. I am glad that Matt now has the opportunity to put this part of his past behind him and pursue another shot with our organization after serving his suspension.”

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Anthony Santander DH
Trey Mancini 1B
Rougned Odor 2B
Ramón Urías SS
Tyler Nevin 3B
Anthony Bemboom C
Ryan McKenna RF

Spenser Watkins RHP

For the Yankees
DJ LeMahieu 3B
Aaron Judge CF
Anthony Rizzo 1B
Giancarlo Stanton RF
Josh Donaldson DH
Gleyber Torres 2B
Joey Gallo LF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
Kyle Higashioka C

Jameson Taillon RHP