Orioles reinstate Kyle Bradish to start vs. Yankees, designate Yohan Ramírez for assignment

The Orioles activated starter Kyle Bradish from the injured list Thursday ahead of his 2024 season debut against the Yankees.

The Orioles activated right-hander Kyle Bradish from the 15-day injured list and named him their starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale against the New York Yankees. Right-handed reliever Yohan Ramírez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Bradish, 27, will make his season debut after missing the first month of the season recovering from a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow he suffered in January. The 2018 fourth-round pick enjoyed a breakout season for Baltimore in 2023, placing fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting after going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 30 starts. He started Game 1 of their AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers.

After undergoing platelet-rich plasma injections to speed up the healing process in his elbow, Bradish spent spring training slowly building up his workload. He then pitched a live bullpen session and made three rehab assignments, posting a 3.97 ERA with 14 strikeouts and four walks across 11 1/3 innings in Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He steps into the rotation just one day after the Orioles reinstated left-hander John Means and placed righty Grayson Rodriguez on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation. Baltimore has not yet announced when Means will make his first start.

Ramírez, 28, joined the Orioles in a cash trade with the New York Mets in April. He posted a 6.00 ERA in five appearances out of the bullpen.