Ryan Helsley’s return is finally starting to take shape.
The Orioles closer has moved into bullpen work as he tries to work back from a second stint on the injured list, a sign that he’s at least clearing the first hurdle in what still looks like a long process. Helsley told reporters in St. Louis that he got in 15-to-20 pitches over the weekend at Camden Yards, mixing in off-speed pitches as he continues to build up from right elbow inflammation.
He hasn’t pitched since June 27, and this latest setback has limited him to 17 appearances. In those outings, he’s posted a 4.11 ERA and 1.435 WHIP while still leading the team with eight saves.
The Orioles brought Helsley in on a two-year, $28 million deal after Félix Bautista underwent surgery in August to repair his right labrum and rotator cuff. Bautista has also started moving forward, beginning a rehab assignment Sunday at Double-A Chesapeake before advancing it to Triple-A Norfolk today.
There’s still no clear finish line for Helsley, but the calendar is working in his favor. Rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, and he has a chance to rejoin the club later in the month.
He remains hopeful that his season is not done. His contract also includes an opt-out clause, though that appears to be a decision for another day.
Blaze Alexander is also taking a step forward. The infielder, sidelined since fracturing his left hand on a hit-by-pitch on July 12, begins a rehab assignment tonight with Norfolk.
He’s batting second and playing third base in Durham, and he’s hoping to be activated while the Orioles are in Sacramento. If not, he would be part of the September roster expansion.
Alexander is slotted between outfielders Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Heston Kjerstad in the Norfolk lineup, with Cade Povich starting.
Elsewhere on the injury front, manager Craig Albernaz said earlier today that Tyler O’Neill is out of the lineup against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore because of right shoulder soreness that surfaced after his diving catch Saturday night. O’Neill will have an MRI later today, and Luis Vázquez is on the taxi squad.
There were also a few roster and injury updates in the system. High-A Frederick’s RJ Austin, a third-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Vanderbilt University, is going on the seven-day IL with left wrist discomfort.
Austin is batting a combined .270/.372/.444 with eight doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 31 RBIs, along with 34 stolen bases in 40 attempts, across 65 games between Frederick and Single-A Delmarva. Sixty-two of those games came with the Keys.
Infielder Jaiden Lo Re, a fifth-round pick in 2025, moved up today from Delmarva to Frederick after hitting .325/.439/.443 in 56 games with the Shorebirds. He also batted .354/.421/.462 in 20 games in the Florida Complex League.
And at Chesapeake, catcher Ethan Anderson has been reinstated from the injured list.
In Other News...
Orioles Fans Should Be Worried About Heston Kjerstads Future
Heston Kjerstads place in the Orioles future has become a real point of concern, even with his recent production at Triple-A. The former second-overall pick has not appeared in the major leagues since June 6, 2025, and his big-league opportunities have remained limited, leaving him in an awkward spot for a player who was supposed to be part of the organizations long-term core.
What makes the situation harder to ignore is that Kjerstad has been performing well in Norfolk without finding a clear path back to Baltimore. The Orioles have not carved out a role for him, and with no official word on their plans, the lack of opportunity is starting to look just as significant as the bat he is showing in the minors. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Alonso Is Giving The Orioles Something Gunnar Henderson Needed
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The timing matters, too. Alonso is coming off his 30th home run of the season, a reminder that he is still producing offensively while taking on a mentoring role behind the scenes. For Henderson, having a proven hitter willing to share what he has learned gives Baltimore another layer of support as the Orioles keep leaning on their core to grow together, and Alonsos influence is becoming part of that picture. [Read more 🡒]
Gunnar Hendersons Struggles Just Became A Much Bigger Orioles Problem
Gunnar Hendersons 2026 season has become one of the more surprising subplots in Baltimore, not because of a lack of opportunity but because the production has simply not followed. The Orioles have continued to put him in the middle of the lineup, yet his struggles have shown up in the places that matter most for a player expected to anchor an offense, especially on the road and with runners in scoring position.
The numbers have only sharpened the concern, with his advanced and traditional production both sitting near the bottom among major leaguers with similar playing time. Even beyond the box score, the frustration has been visible, which is part of why this has grown from a bad stretch into a bigger organizational issue, one that could even affect how the Orioles evaluate his value when the offseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]