Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson will miss the beginning of the season due to a mild right intercostal strain.
Baltimore’s general manager, Mike Elias, stated on Sunday that he hopes Henderson’s time on the injured list will be brief, measured in days rather than weeks.
The Orioles open their season in Toronto on Thursday.
Henderson, 23, left a Feb. 27 spring training game after one inning due to discomfort in his lower right side. An intercostal strain affects the muscles between the ribs.
Last season, Henderson hit .281 with 37 home runs and 92 RBIs, earning All-Star honors and being named the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year.
Elias also announced that Cade Povich has secured the No. 5 starter role. The left-hander will pitch in the home opener against Boston on March 31.
Povich, who turns 25 on April 12, was drafted by Minnesota in the third round of the 2021 amateur draft and later traded to Baltimore in August 2022. He made his MLB debut last year, recording a 3-9 record with a 5.20 ERA over 16 starts.
Additionally, the Orioles optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to minor league camp on Sunday. The 26-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in January, had an impressive spring, hitting .321 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 18 Grapefruit League games.
