Rickard on DL with thumb ligament injury

The Orioles have placed Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to yesterday, with a right thumb ligament injury and recalled outfielder Dariel Alvarez from Triple-A Norfolk.

Rickard suffered the injury in the first inning of Wednesday's game at Yankee Stadium while chasing Brett Gardner's triple. He ran into the fence and fell on the track after failing to make the catch.

Rickard stayed in the game and singled in the fifth inning, but he wasn't in yesterday's lineup. He walked into the clubhouse this afternoon with a smile on his face and without a cast or wrap on his right hand.

It was deceiving.

Rickard, chosen from the Rays in the Rule 5 draft, is batting .268/.319/.377 with 13 doubles, five home runs, 19 RBIs and 32 runs scored in 85 games. He's a plus-defender at all three outfield spots and brings a rare element of speed to the club.

The Orioles have 13 stolen bases this season and Rickard leads the club with four.

No word on whether Rickard will need surgery on the thumb, but the injury places the rest of his season in jeopardy. He's already been on the major league roster for 90 days and won't retain his Rule 5 status in 2017.

Rickard joins outfielder Hyun Soo Kim (hamstring) on the disabled list. Kim is eligible to return on Tuesday.

Álvarez, 27, batted .280/.315/.382 (104-for-372) with 26 doubles, four home runs, 40 RBIs and 34 runs scored in 93 games with Norfolk. He walked in his only plate appearance for the Orioles this season.

Álvarez hit .241/.290/.370 (7-for-29) over 12 games with the Orioles in 2015. He's rated as having the best arm in the organization.