LOS ANGELES — The Orioles will be without their cornerstone behind the plate for at least a few days.
Baltimore placed catcher Adley Rutschman on the seven-day concussion injured list Saturday after he was hit on the side of his head Thursday in Seattle by an errant throw, manager Craig Albernaz said. In his place, the Orioles recalled outfielder Michael Siani.
Rutschman’s injury came in the ninth inning of a series-ending loss to the Mariners. As he ran to first, shortstop Colt Emerson’s throw was offline and hit Rutschman on the ear.
Rutschman’s helmet’s ear flap was covering the opposite side of his head. He was removed from the game as a precaution, and Albernaz said he wasn’t available Friday as the Orioles continued to evaluate him.
“It sucks for Adley,” Albernaz said. “Especially with the concussion and head injuries, it’s tough. Especially with the position he plays, with constant foul tips and balls in the dirt, back swings, plays at the plate.”
Albernaz said Baltimore will take it “day by day” to evaluate Rutschman. The injured list placement is retroactive to Friday, which means the earliest Rutschman could return is June 26, when the Orioles begin a series against the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards.
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The Orioles also have right-hander Cameron Weston and catcher Chadwick Tromp. Tromp played six games for Baltimore last year when the Orioles endured a rash of catcher injuries.
This year, the 31-year-old played 12 games for the Braves. Tromp elected free agency when Atlanta designated him for assignment this week, which allowed him to return for Baltimore in the minors. Tromp is here as a precaution.
The Orioles chose Siani for Saturday because “he’s an elite defender out in the outfield,” Albernaz said. “He has way-above-average speed, and he manages the at-bat really well.”
Siani is hitting .109 in 15 games for Triple-A Norfolk. He was claimed off waivers in May from the Dodgers.
The Orioles had carried three catchers on the roster recently. In addition to Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, Sam Huff is here. Huff will be the primary backup for Basallo in the short term, but if Baltimore feels more comfortable having a third catcher, Tromp is an option.
This article has been updated.






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