Tyler

O'Neill

It was strike three, so Basallo didn’t technically leave the game. However, from the looks of things, he certainly would have had to if the game had continued. Basallo was taking a cut when his right hand let go of his bat, leading to an awkward followthrough. Basallo reached for the left shoulder afterwards and never really let go as he made his way into the dugout and towards the clubhouse. Hopefully, it’s not a severe injury, but if he needs to go on the IL, the Orioles would probably replace him with catcher Silas Ardoin. Tyler O’Neill would probably be the biggest beneficiary in terms of playing time.

O’Neill showed some signs of life with an RBI double off Will Warren in the sixth inning, though it came on a ball Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham ultimately could’ve caught. It was just O’Neill’s second extra-base hit this season in 60 at-bats. The Orioles signed him through the 2027 season, so O’Neill will be given some kind of leash, but he could be phased out if he doesn’t start hitting soon.

O’Neill was activated prior to Friday’s series opener but didn’t end up making an appearance. The 30-year-old slugging corner outfielder wound up missing just over two weeks with a concussion. He’s back in right field and hitting fifth in his first game action since April 8.

He’ll be eligible to return tonight against the Red Sox. O’Neill wound up missing about two weeks after suffering his concussion on April 9. Baltimore hasn’t posted a lineup yet but it would not be surprising if O’Neill found his way into it.

While the 30-year-old slugger has shown improvement, it sounds like he’s still at least a few days away from a potential return to the Orioles lineup. O’Neill has been shelved since April 9.

It turns out it’s not just an illness that O’Neill has been battling, it has actually been a concussion. Johnathan Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take his place on the active roster. O’Neill will have to clear the concussion protocol before he’s eligible to return to action.

O’Neill winds up missing all three games of the weekend series against the Giants. He’s still considered day-to-day, so expect that he’ll return to action early next week. Leody Taveras will draw another start in his place on Sunday and will bat sixth against Giants’ right-hander Adrian Houser.

O’Neill has caught whatever has been going around the Orioles’ clubhouse and will be held out of action on Friday night as a result. Leody Taveras will take his place in the Orioles’ lineup and will bat seventh against Giants’ right-hander Landen Roupp.

Mountcastle finds himself in Baltimore’s lineup for just the second time this season with his lone start coming back on March 31. It’ll be Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers on the bench with Mountcastle and Tyler O’Neill getting an opportunity to face White Sox opener Grant Taylor, who has been excellent this season.

It’s notable that O’Neill has started just half of Baltimore’s eight games on the young season and he’s been out of the lineup for three straight. It’ll be Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser continuing to get opportunities to play regularly with reclamation project Leody Taveras getting some unexpected run in center field at the moment.