Baltimore Orioles Catcher To Miss Start Of Season With Injury; Headed To IL

Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann is expected to start the 2023 season on the injured list due to an oblique injury he sustained during a Grapefruit League game against the Philadelphia Phillies on March 20.

Although McCann has described the injury as "minor," he has not played since the incident, indicating that it has not fully healed.

Mike Elias confirmed Tyler Wells got last rotation spot. Mychal Givens going on IL and James McCann probably joining him. #orioles

— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 27, 2023

This development will force the Orioles to make changes to their roster, as the 32-year-old serves as the primary backup to Adley Rutschman, a highly-touted prospect and cornerstone of the franchise.

McCann missed almost a month last season with the New York Mets due to a left oblique strain, although he has noted that his current soreness is in a different area on the same side.

Despite his optimism, Orioles general manager Mike Elias has confirmed that McCann will likely require a stint on the injured list to begin the season.

James McCann said his swings yesterday felt “good, not great.” He won’t be in the lineup today as he deals with oblique soreness still.

Cautious is the word he’s using, but the Orioles will hold off on deciding whether an injured list stint is necessary for as long as they can

— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) March 27, 2023

In McCann's absence, Anthony Bemboom is expected to serve as the team's backup catcher. The Orioles will be hoping for a speedy recovery for McCann, as his experience and leadership will be important assets to the team once he is back in action.

Over his nine-year career, the 32-year-old has posted a .243/.296/.380 triple-slash line, with 78 home runs, 316 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 265 runs scored across 783 games played. Photo Credit:  Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports