In a flurry of roster moves, the Orioles have added a new piece to their catching depth by claiming Dom Keegan off waivers from the Rays. Keegan, who has been optioned to Double-A Chesapeake, was previously ranked as Baseball America's 19th-best prospect within the Rays organization. However, his journey with the Rays came to an abrupt halt to make room for the newly acquired right-hander Chris Roycroft.
Keegan's season with Triple-A Durham was less than stellar, as he posted a .191/.327/.303 slash line with six home runs over 214 plate appearances. While his walk rate was an impressive 14.5 percent, his strikeout rate of nearly 37 percent was a glaring issue.
Since stepping up to Triple-A last year, Keegan's numbers have been underwhelming, hitting .221/.315/.378 with 16 home runs, 170 strikeouts, and 55 walks in 511 plate appearances. Concerns about his defensive capabilities, particularly his arm strength and pitch framing, have also been noted.
With the Orioles, Keegan joins a catching roster that includes Samuel Basallo, Sam Huff, and Chadwick Tromp, as they manage without Adley Rutschman, who is currently on the concussion injured list.
The addition of Keegan meant a shake-up in the Orioles' 40-man roster, leading to the designation of right-hander Kyle Nicolas for assignment. This marks the second time this year Nicolas finds himself in this position, previously being designated by the Reds before being traded to Baltimore. Originally drafted by the Pirates in 2020, Nicolas has shown potential with a high-90s fastball but has struggled with control, reflected in his 4.96 ERA over 105 1/3 major league innings.
Nicolas's stint with the Orioles was brief and without a major league appearance, but his time with the Reds earlier this season was rocky, allowing seven earned runs in just over seven innings. His performance in Norfolk hasn't been much better, yielding three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Now, the Orioles have a five-day window to decide Nicolas's fate, whether through trade, waivers, or release.
As the Orioles navigate these roster changes, they're clearly looking to bolster their depth and address areas of concern, particularly behind the plate and on the mound. Keegan's development in Double-A will be one to watch, as he seeks to refine his game and potentially make an impact in the big leagues down the line.
In Other News...
Rays Fans Had The Same Fear When Yandy Daz Left Early
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For a club that leans on Daz as a key part of its core, any shoulder issue is worth watching closely, especially with the season moving forward and lineup stability always at a premium. He is listed as day to day, and while that offers a measure of relief, it also leaves the Rays waiting to see how much this setback will affect him once the medical staff gets a better look. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Sweep Arizona As Rasmussen Keeps Fueling A Red Hot Stretch
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Rasmussens latest outing fit neatly into a June that has been building his case for one of the best stretches in club history, and the Rays have kept feeding off that stability as the calendar turns. Camineros power has become a headline of its own, Mullins has settled in well enough to add another jolt, and Tampa Bay keeps stacking wins with the kind of balance that can make a hot stretch feel more durable than temporary. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Suddenly Have A New Concern After Facing Diamondbacks
The Rays left Arizona with a sweep and a convincing 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks, but the result came with a bit of unease attached. Yandy Diaz exited after dealing with a shoulder issue, and the club had Richie Palacios step in, a reminder that even a clean series can carry a cost when one of the lineups most reliable bats gets dinged up.
For Tampa Bay, the timing matters as much as the injury itself. Diaz has been central to the offense at Tropicana Field and has given the Rays a steady presence in the middle of the order, so any disruption there is worth watching closely. The team is set to dig further into the shoulder, and for now the bigger question is how long it might affect a player who has been one of their most dependable run producers. [Read more 🡒]