Samuel Basallo (shoulder) ready for Triple-A games

Pozo was replaced by Carlos Narváez behind the dish after being struck by a swing from Twins slugger Josh Bell. He’s likely to undergo X-rays to determine whether he fractured anything.

Basallo threw from 90 feet for a second straight day today. Barring a setback, he’s probably 10 days away from being activated.

It provided the only run for the Orioles in the game, somehow, despite them drawing eight walks against the Angels’ pitching staff. It was Pozo’s first homer of the season and the 29-year-old will pair with Carlos Narváez until Samuel Basallo is ready to return from the injured list.

Basallo has yet to start hitting or throwing from the catcher position, so he hasn’t really tested his shoulder yet. He might make it back for the final 7-10 days of August if all goes well, but time will tell.

Apparently, the medicals were approved. The Orioles will get Anthony Eyanson (Boston’s No. 1 pitching prospect), 2025 first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon, Carlos Narváez and more, according to the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer. The Red Sox will have Rutschman under control through 2027. He’s still on the IL for now, but he’ll take over from Connor Wong as the starter when healthy. Jake Rogers is also in the deal going to Boston, so he’ll back up Wong for now. For Baltimore, the move clears the way for Samuel Basallo to spend the next several years as a starting catcher.

Basallo was spotted fielding grounders at first base prior to Monday’s series opener in Detroit. The 21-year-old backstop still hasn’t been cleared to throw after being shut down with shoulder inflammation last week. He’s probably going to miss a couple weeks since the Orioles don’t really want to rush him back and risk a setback that could lead to a more serious issue.

Pozo was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Thursday. He hit .242/.242/.273 in 33 plate appearances with the Cardinals to begin the season and was hitting .229/.256/.386 with three homers in 86 plate appearances at Triple-A before being designated for assignment. He will back up Chadwick Tromp in a situation that all fantasy managers should avoid.

Albernaz added that they’re giving Basallo some extra time off to rest and recover while he works his way back from shoulder inflammation that put him on the injured list earlier this week. There was initial optimism that it would only be a minimum stay, but that appears to be fading quickly.

Pozo spent most of the first half in the season in the bigs, hitting .242/.242/.273 in 33 plate appearances with the Cardinals. The 29-year-old has also played in 21 games for Triple-A Memphis, hitting .229/.256/.386 with three homers in 86 plate appearances. He’ll trade Triple-A clubhouses as he heads to Norfolk.

Basallo was removed from Sunday’s game with shoulder discomfort after a swing, and the Orioles waited to put him on the injured list because fellow catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) was already there. Now, the team will be without its top two catchers for at least the next 10 days, which means Sam Huff and Chadwick Tromp will split the catching duties for Baltimore.