Baltimore Orioles Sending Cy Young Finalist On Injury Rehab Assignment

The Baltimore Orioles are preparing to send their Cy Young finalist of a year ago on an injury rehab assignment in the next stage of his recovery.

Sep 8, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (39) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles are confident enough with the recovery of pitcher Kyle Bradish that they are sending him on a rehab assignment.

The Orioles announced that Bradish will be sent to High Class-A Aberdeen to start a rehab assignment “soon,” per multiple outlets.

The date for the beginning of his rehab is important because it starts at 30-day clock that allows him to remain in the minors so he can build up to re-join Baltimore. Considering Bradish was completely shut down at the start of this process, he may need the entire window to get ready for the Majors.

Bradish is recovering from a right UCL sprain, which is the same ligament that can lead to Tommy John surgery. The Orioles caught the sprain early in camp and believe that with rest and rehabilitation he can avoid surgery.

He has thrown off flat ground and bullpen sessions, but has not thrown in a live game yet in 2024. Bradish has spent the past couple of weeks at the team’s facility in Sarasota, Fla., continuing his rehab.

The rising star went 12-7 in 30 starts, throwing 168 2/3 innings and striking out 168 last season. He had the fourth-best ERA in baseball at 2.83 and had a 1.04 WHIP. He helped Baltimore win the American League East for the first time since 2016.

That performance led him to finish in the Top 5 in Cy Young voting and earned him a spot on the All-MLB Second Team.

Rotation mate John Means is currently on an injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk as he works his way back from a left forearm strain that flared up at the start of spring training and put him about a month behind the rest of the rotation.