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Baltimore Orioles to get big Tyler O’Neill boost for Red Sox clash
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- Baltimore Orioles to get big Tyler O’Neill boost for Red Sox clash
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The Baltimore Orioles received a pair of timely reinforcements Friday, reinstating outfielder Tyler O'Neill from the 7-day concussion injured list and activating right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge from the 15-day IL ahead of a pivotal three-game AL East series against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards.
To clear roster space, the Orioles optioned outfielder Jonathan Rodriguez to Triple-A Norfolk and sent right-hander Jose Espada to Double-A Chesapeake.
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O'Neill's return is the bigger story. The 30-year-old Canadian outfielder landed on the concussion IL on April 9, retroactive, after a frightening health scare in which he fainted due to severe dehydration on an off-day, bumping his head during the fall. What initially appeared to be a routine illness snowballed quickly, and manager Craig Albernaz moved cautiously, monitoring O'Neill closely throughout the recovery process.
The good news is that O'Neill was off to one of the better starts of his recent career before the injury, slashing .241/.353/.345 with one home run and a 114 wRC+ over his first 34 plate appearances in 2026. After a 2025 season that was largely a disaster, just 54 games played, three IL stints, and a .199 average, the early-season production had given Orioles fans reason for optimism on the three-year, $49.5 million investment.
Kittredge's return adds much-needed depth to a Baltimore bullpen that has been ravaged by injuries all spring. The veteran right-hander was shut down during spring training with right shoulder inflammation and has been working his way back via a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk.
The timing is perfect. Baltimore is 12-13 and in third place in the AL East going into the Red Sox series. They really need a spark. Boston, on the other hand, is having a hard time and is 9-16, which puts them at the bottom of the division and looking for consistency. The O's are the favorites going into the first game, and their lineup looks a lot more dangerous now that O'Neill is back.
Related: Orioles' Jackson Holliday shares huge update after recent injury scare
