SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish has a sprained UCL in his right elbow and is expected to miss opening day, and teammates Gunnar Henderson and John Means are also dealing with injuries as Baltimore opens spring training.
General manager Mike Elias revealed Bradish’s injury Thursday on the club’s official report date for pitchers and catchers.
Bradish was on hand and participated in non-throwing drills. The right-hander received Cy Young Award votes after a breakout 2023 season, in which he finished 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA over 30 starts. He was expected to slot behind newly acquired ace Corbin Burnes in Baltimore’s rotation.
“Kyle started his throwing program in January, and in the course of that, he detected some irritation in his throwing elbow,” Elias said. “We got that treated with a PRP injection. The early returns are very encouraging and everything is in a really good spot right now.
“He’s going to start his throwing progression tomorrow. Everything is pointed in the right direction, but I’m not at a point where I want to start putting a timeline on when we’re going to see him in major league action.”
Elias also said Means and Henderson would be limited during spring training.
Means is behind schedule from an elbow injury that forced him to miss last year’s AL Division Series, and Henderson is dealing with a “mild oblique aggravation.”
Henderson, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, participated in limited team drills Thursday. He could be held out of early spring games as a precaution.
“Hopefully, he doesn’t miss too much time at this camp,” Elias said, adding it could take 2-3 weeks for the oblique to heal. “At this point, we don’t expect his opening day to be in danger.”
Means could miss the start of the regular season as he continues his pitching buildup.
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