Keegan Akin is feeling optimistic as he recovers from a left groin strain that sidelined him during the last exhibition game in Florida. Now on the 15-day injured list, Akin is seeing progress.
Reflecting on the incident, Akin shared, “It was probably one of the best days I felt all spring training, and then this happened. So I guess I better not jinx it next time.”
Akin is back to playing catch and running, though he admits he’s not at full strength yet. “It’s feeling a lot better than the initial incident, so we’re kind of pushing it a little bit and seeing where we’re at,” he explained.
Meanwhile, teammate Jackson Holliday is on a rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk. Akin is waiting to determine his own return timeline, depending on how he feels in the coming days.
In Akin’s absence, the Orioles are relying on left-handers Grant Wolfram and Dietrich Enns in their bullpen. Wolfram, who impressed with a scoreless spring training, is stepping into a more critical role. Pitching coach Drew French praised Wolfram’s ability to handle left-handed hitters and noted his potential for high-leverage situations.
French highlighted Wolfram’s mental toughness, saying, “It’s not just the physical job; it’s the psychological aspect that’s challenging. He learned a lot about himself last year, and that’s a springboard for him to be really good for us in ’26.”
Wolfram, acquired from the Brewers in a trade for Daz Cameron, made a strong impression last year. His standout moment came when he struck out four batters in two scoreless innings against the Mets, including Juan Soto.
French recalled, “The Juan Soto strikeout, yeah, that was it. I was a big fan when we first met, and it’s great to have him in Baltimore now.”
In other news, the Rangers have adjusted their rotation for this week’s series against the Orioles after Jacob deGrom was scratched due to neck stiffness.