Veteran Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge has a "low probability" of being available for the start of the season due to right shoulder inflammation, Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz told reporters Wednesday morning.
Kittredge, who turns 36 this month, returned to Baltimore in a November trade after he was sent to the Chicago Cubs in a trade-deadline deal last July.
He's made just one appearance so far in spring training, allowing two earned runs in 1/3 of an inning on Feb. 25.
"We kind of slowed down
his progression," Albernaz said. "It creeped up his last outing here, and so, we just want to do right by him and make sure we get that knocked out."
Kittredge also missed the start of the 2025 season -- his first with the Orioles -- after undergoing debridement surgery on his left knee that sidelined him until May 21.
The right-hander posted a 4-3 record and 3.40 ERA across 54 relief appearances and 53 innings last season, striking out 64 and walking 11.
Over nine major league seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2017-23), St. Louis Cardinals (2024), Orioles and Cubs, Kittredge has a 27-15 record and 3.43 ERA in 309 appearances (15 starts) spanning 338 1/3 innings.
It's the latest in a series of injury blows to key contributors this spring for Baltimore, which is also without second baseman Jackson Holliday (broken hamate bone in right hand) and third baseman Jordan Westburg (partial UCL tear in right elbow).
The Orioles open the season March 26 at home against the Minnesota Twins.
--Field Level Media
