Rom, Vavra and O'Hearn join Orioles in flurry of roster moves

The Orioles shook up their roster this afternoon, and the moves weren’t tied only to Ramón Urías’ left hamstring strain.

Urías was placed on the 10-day injured list as expected, but the club also optioned reliever Keegan Akin and designated catcher Luis Torrens for assignment before he could appear in a game.

Left-hander Drew Rom, infielder/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and infielder Terrin Vavra were recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

Rom, 23, would be making his major league debut after going 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in six games with Norfolk. He’s surrendered only two home runs in 31 1/3 innings and is averaging 2.9 walks and 9.2 strikeouts. He’s wearing No. 67.

The Orioles selected Rom in the fourth round of the 2018 draft out of Highlands High School in Kentucky. He could switch to a relief role as Akin’s replacement, keeping a third left-hander in the bullpen and providing length.

Akin has allowed seven earned runs (eight total) and 15 hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. He struck out three batters last night in two innings but also served up Luke Raley’s solo home run in the ninth.

Urías injured his leg while running to first base on a ninth-inning single and limped off the field. The club recalled Vavra rather than Joey Ortiz, who played second base in three games in Detroit while the Orioles faced a succession of left-handed starters.

Vavra went 6-for-26 before the Orioles optioned him on April 27 to create room for Ortiz, and he made starts in left and right field and as the designated hitter and also played second and third base. He’s batting .286/.333/.381 in nine games with Norfolk.

O’Hearn was optioned four days ago when the Orioles acquired Torrens from the Cubs for cash considerations. He’s eligible to return because he’s replacing an injured player.

In nine games with the Orioles, O’Hearn went 5-for-19 with a double and six RBIs, played first base and right field and was used as the designated hitter. He slashed .354/.404/.729 with four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 13 RBIs in 11 games with the Tides.

The 40-man roster is down to 39 players.

Grayson Rodriguez is making his seventh major league start. He’s allowed 17 runs and 31 hits with 12 walks and 37 strikeouts in 28 innings.

Anthony Santander has a season-long seven-game hitting streak. Six of his last nine hits are for extra bases.

The Orioles will try to snap their season-long three-game losing streak. They’re 2-for-29 with runners in scoring position during that stretch.

The Rays are starting right-hander Zach Eflin, the Padres’ first round draft pick in 2012 who signed a three-year, $40 million contract in December that’s the largest in franchise history. Eflin is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.964 WHIP in five starts, with three walks and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings.

In his last start, Eflin shut out the Pirates on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Left-handed hitters are slashing .170/.188/.298 against Eflin this season. Right-handers are batting .276/.312/.431.

Eflin has made two career starts against the Orioles and allowed six runs and 12 hits with one walk and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings.