Santander ready for rehab assignment

The Orioles have kept busy making roster moves during the first two months of the season, whether due to injury or the need for a fresh bullpen arm and resetting of a starting pitcher, and they're nearing another transaction.

Anthony Santander is beginning an injury rehab assignment Friday night at Double-A Bowie, which continues its series against Reading at Prince George's Stadium.

Santander is going to play the outfield and also be used as the designated hitter during his stint with the Baysox, per the Orioles, in order to accumulate at-bats and perhaps return to the majors early next week.

The Orioles placed Santander on the 10-day injured list April 20 with a sprained left ankle. He rolled it while going back to first base on an attempted pickoff in Miami.

The 2020 Most Valuable Oriole was batting .196/.230/.321 in 16 games, going 11-for-56 with one double, two home runs and eight RBIs. He's drawn only two walks and struck out 17 times.

The hot bat didn't make it back from spring training, where Santander went 9-for-29 (.310) with an .866 OPS, 10 walks and seven strikeouts.

Santander has been shut down the past two Septembers with shoulder and oblique injuries. He didn't play in the last six exhibition games due to soreness in his side, but made the opening day roster.

DJ Stewart and Austin Hays are getting the starts in right field with Santander on the IL. Stewart avoided a return to the injured list after straining his left hamstring, but he has one at-bat since Sunday.

The active roster includes outfielder Ryan McKenna, who could be optioned when Santander returns.

The Orioles host the Yankees in a three-game series beginning Friday night.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was placed on the COVID-19 injured list earlier today after testing positive again. He was fully vaccinated.

Torres is the eighth Yankees player, coach or traveling staff member to test positive this week.

Infielder Miguel Andújar was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding roster move.