The Baltimore Orioles list of injuries this year is larger than that of most teams in the MLB. In fact, 19 different players have already landed on the injured list, and it is only mid-May.
As a result, it has been difficult for the Orioles to stay competitive throughout the opening stretch of the 2026 season. They entered Wednesday’s series finale against the New York Yankees with a 19-24 record, still searching for consistency.
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The position player group has been hit especially hard. All-Star Adley Rutschman has missed time, while Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad have yet to play a game this season. Now another promising young player is set to join them as unavailable.
The Orioles announced ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Yankees that outfielder Dylan Beavers has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 11 with a right oblique strain. Catcher Maverick Handley was recalled in a corresponding move.
Beavers suffered the injury while taking swings in the batting cages on Tuesday, which led to him being scratched from the lineup shortly before first pitch. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning, and the results likely delivered the bad news that prompted the IL stint. It is another setback for an Orioles team that has struggled to keep its 40-man roster intact.
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In Beavers’ absence, veteran outfielder Tyler ONeill will likely be asked to take on a larger workload in left field. The Orioles are already thin in the outfield, and losing Beavers removes one of the few young players who had been contributing regularly.
Beavers is in his second MLB season after debuting in 2025. He was Baltimore’s first round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and remains a key part of their long-term plans.
This season has been a challenge for him at the plate. Through his first stretch of games, Beavers posted a .243 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, .699 OPS, two home runs and 12 RBIs.
Even so, he continues to provide solid defense and above-average speed, traits the Orioles value as they look to build a sustainable outfield core. He is also under team control for the foreseeable future.
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Baltimore has dealt with more injuries than almost any team in baseball, and losing Beavers only adds to the frustration. Getting him healthy again will be important as they try to get back into the playoff picture in a wide-open American League.