Jayson

Aquino

Scary moment. Aquino apparently managed to mostly duck out of the way, but it still got him. It doesn’t seem too serious, but he was likely taken out for precautionary reasons. The Rockies should pass along an update soon.

Initial reports indicated that Aquino may have been hit in the back/shoulder by a line drive during Thursday’s intrasquad game, but it appears that he was hit in the head after all. The Rockies are obviously taking every precaution in this situation and will pass along an update soon.

Aquino was hit in the head by a line drive during an intrasquad game Thursday, but he’s managed to avoid a serious injury. He’ll resume his normal workouts soon.

Aquino, who turns 21 on Friday, posted a 4.34 ERA and 73/26 K/BB ratio in 87 innings across 14 starts and one relief appearance this year between Low-A Tri-City and Class A Asheville. He’s still a while away from the big leagues, but the Rockies didn’t want to risk losing him in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Aquino has 2/3 of a scoreless inning to his name for the 2016 campaign. A return to Double-A is probably for the best, here, as it will allow the 23-year-old southpaw plenty of opportunities to develop and hone his craft. Opportunities that just did not exist for him with the big league club at this phase in his professional career. Prior to his July 4 promotion, he held a 3.25 ERA and 55/22 K/BB over 80 1/3 Double-A frames.

Aquino made one appearance with the O’s earlier this season and held a 3.72 ERA while working mainly as a starter between Double- and Triple-A. He’ll be used in long relief in September.

Aquino, who was acquired from the Cardinals in April, owns a 3.25 ERA and 55/22 K/BB ratio in 80 1/3 innings over 13 starts and one relief appearance in Double-A this season. The 23-year-old southpaw will pitch in long relief.

Baltimore’s decision-makers want Aquino to get innings, and he’s not going to get them as a mop-up man at the major league level. The 23-year-old left-hander is at 129 innings between the minors and majors in 2016, after throwing 137 1/3 innings in 2015. He could challenge for an Opening Day rotation spot in 2017.

He’ll be available out of the bullpen Sunday against the Diamondbacks. Aquino has spent the last few weeks at the team’s spring training facility in Florida in an effort to limit his innings. The left-hander hasn’t allowed a run in three relief appearances for the O’s this year.

Aquino could return later this month when the Orioles need a fifth starter. The lefty allowed just two runs over 15 innings this spring.