Orioles' Jordan Westburg: May begin rehab assignment Thursday
Rotowire
Westburg (hand) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Westburg has been on the shelf since Aug. 1 with a fractured right hand, but after taking batting practice Tuesday without issue, he appears to have cleared the final hurdle before being ready for game action. Given his long layoff, Westburg may require at least a couple of games in the minors to regain his timing at the plate, but he should make it back from the 10-day injured list before the Orioles' regular season comes to a close Sept. 29. Westburg and Ramon Urias (ankle) are seemingly tracking toward similar return timelines from the IL, and the Orioles could have regular roles available for both players in the infield once they're activated.
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Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Taking batting practice Tuesday
Rotowire
Westburg (hand) will take batting practice Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Per Orioles general manager Mike Elias, Westburg could get into a rehab game before Triple-A Norfolk's season ends Sunday. The young infielder is tracking toward a return during the final week of the regular season.
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Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Progressing in rehab
Rotowire
Westburg (hand) has begun hitting in the cage and is participating in full baseball activities, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It's another positive step in Westburg's recovery from a fractured hand he suffered in late July. The next step would be a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk. Before landing on the IL, Westburg was slashing .269/.317/.497 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI across 420 plate appearances.
Westburg (hand) was spotted fielding grounders while the Orioles were warming up prior to Monday's game against the Red Sox, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Westburg still remains without a clear timeline to return from the 10-day injured list, but the fact that he traveled with the team to Boston and took part in some baseball activities Monday while no longer sporting a cast on his fractured right hand can be taken as a positive sign. The young infielder has been on the shelf since Aug. 1 with the injury, so he'll likely require a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk before he makes his return from the IL.
Westburg (hand) did some throwing without a cast Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Westburg is almost five weeks removed from suffering a fractured right hand and has finally been able to ditch his cast. He'll continue to ramp up his activities and will likely require a short rehab assignment before being activated by the Orioles. A return in mid-September looks doable.
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Still doing on-field work
Rotowire
Westburg (hand) has continued to take one-handed swings and fielding grounders, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Westburg was cleared for the activity Aug. 20 and has continued to do on-field work to avoid getting too rusty as he recovers from a broken hand. He remains in a cast but is expected to return before the regular season concludes.
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Resumes baseball activities
Rotowire
Westburg (hand) has been cleared to field grounders and take one-handed swings, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It's not much, but it's the beginning of a ramp-up for Westburg as he works his way back from a fractured right hand. The infielder will eventually need to undergo some additional imaging to see how his hand has healed before a clearer timetable for his return can be established. Westburg suffered the injury on July 31.
