Ryan

Helsley

Helsley receives the green light to return to game action after completing a live batting practice session earlier this week. The hard-throwing 31-year-old closer has been out recovering from elbow inflammation since late April. He’ll need a couple rehab outings to round back into shape before returning to Baltimore’s bullpen, which will bump Rico Garcia back into a setup role.

It’s presumably the final checkmark before Helsley heads out on a minor league rehab assignment. The flame-throwing 31-year-old closer has been on the shelf recovering from elbow inflammation since late April. He’ll need a handful of tune-up outings in order to get back up to speed, especially given the lengthy layoff, but he’s trending towards a mid-June return. Rico Garcia will continue handling save situations for the Orioles in his absence.

Helsley completed another bullpen session on Friday at Camden Yards and figures to head out on a minor league rehab assignment early next week. The hard-throwing 31-year-old stopper has been out with elbow inflammation since late April. His return figures to push Rico Garcia, who has been outstanding during his absence, back to more of a fireman-type role before the ninth inning. It’s a bit unclear how many tune-up appearances Helsley will need given the lengthy layoff, but he figures to return to Baltimore’s bullpen by mid-June.

Helsley appears to be getting close to heading out on a minor league rehab assignment, but he still hasn’t progressed to facing hitters in a live batting practice session. The hard-throwing 31-year-old stopper has been on the shelf with elbow inflammation since late April. There’s no real urgency to rush him back since unheralded Rico Garcia has done a phenomenal job as Baltimore’s primary ninth-inning option during his absence.

Helsley will have to check a couple additional boxes, including progressing to throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters in live batting practice, before he’s cleared to head out on a minor league rehab assignment. That ramp-up process figures to take a couple weeks, which pushes his likely return back into early-to-mid June. The hard-throwing 31-year-old stopper has been working his way back from elbow inflammation since late April. It’ll be Rico Garcia handling the closing duties for the Orioles for at least another couple weeks.

Helsley expects to be cleared to resume throwing soon and will need a brief minor league rehab assignment before returning to Baltimore’s bullpen. The hard-throwing 31-year-old has checked out fine from an imaging standpoint after hitting the injured list with elbow inflammation back in late April. It’ll be Rico Garcia handling the closing duties for at least a couple more weeks.

Helsley underwent an MRI over the weekend that didn’t reveal any structural damage after hitting the shelf last Friday with elbow inflammation. It’s an extremely positive sign that he could potentially be cleared to resume throwing later this week. He’ll need some time to ramp up again, but fantasy managers should expect him back at some point in May. It’ll likely be Rico Garcia handling the closing duties in his absence based on recent usage patterns.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz delivered a positive update, noting that Helsely is merely dealing with elbow inflammation and that there isn’t a high level of concern. The 31-year-old closer will be cleared to resume throwing once the swelling subsides and isn’t expected to require a lengthy absence. Andrew Kittredge’s closing experience makes him the clear favorite to take over the ninth-inning role, but rookie Anthony Nunez has the stuff to handle the role. Rico Garcia is another name to watch in the closing mix for the next couple weeks.

The closer madness continues. Helsley had been one of the top performers in the league at the position, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 15/7 K/BB ratio over his first 10 2/3 innings while converting each of his first seven save chances. No word yet on the severity of the injury or on how long the Orioles expect their closer to be shelved for. Albert Suarez was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move on Friday.

Helsley has walked seven in 10 2/3 innings to start the year, but he’s also struck out 15 and he’s a perfect 7-for-7 in save chances. He retired Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve in this one.