Richie Martin back in bigs as Ramón Urías heads to IL

KANSAS CITY – One infielder to the injured list, another recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. 

Too many times in his young career, Richie Martin has been on the wrong end of these sort of transactions. 

Martin has missed significant time with injury since he was selected by the Orioles with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Rule 5 draft, including a fractured right wrist, a broken hamate bone in his left hand and a non-displaced left wrist fracture.

But in 2022, the 27-year-old has been both healthy and productive for Norfolk and has earned a call-up to the bigs as Ramón Urías heads to the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Friday.

Martin will start at second base for the first time in his big league career Saturday afternoon against the Royals.

“We’ve seen Richie quite a bit over the years,” said Brandon Hyde to a gaggle of reporters in the dugout at Kauffman Stadium before Saturday’s game. “Obviously there’s a lot of athleticism. He’s been swinging the bat well in Triple-A. So we’re happy about that.”

Urías was removed from Friday’s lineup shortly before first pitch after feeling tightness on his left side.

“Right at the end of batting practice yesterday, (he) felt a little something in his side,” said Hyde. “So hopefully it’s just a 10-day thing and we’ll have him back soon.”

Martin, who was hitting .295 with an .823 OPS in 41 games with the Tides, occupies the vacant 40-man roster spot left open by Chris Owings’ designation for assignment on June 8.

Hyde expects to use the versatile infielder at both shortstop and second base, though Martin has only played three games at second base for the Tides in 2022.

“I think he’s more accustomed to short but in spring training he’s played quite a bit at second,” said Hyde. “We’ve had him take ground balls at second base.

“We’re a little short in the middle of the field. Richie’s incredibly athletic. He’s been playing well in Norfolk. Hopefully it can continue here.”

Tyler Wells, who has yet to throw more than 88 pitches in a big league start, could go a bit deeper into Saturday’s game.

“We’ll see how the game goes, see how traffic is,” said Hyde. “It all depends a lot of times on stressful innings, but hopefully he’ll throw more than he did the last time out.”

Last night’s 8-1 loss was the ninth consecutive game in which an Orioles starter did not produce a quality start.

“We’re not throwing the ball really well as a rotation,” said Hyde. “We’re in a little bit of a funk from the starting staff. Hopefully, we can get out of it here soon. It’s not gonna be easy. Two left with (the Royals) and then in Toronto they’ve got a great offense.”

For the second straight game, the Royals will start a 25-year-old on the mound, this time lefty Daniel Lynch. First pitch comes at 4:10 p.m. ET.