Stewart opts out, 'grateful' for O's support

Orioles right-hander Kohl Stewart has decided to opt out of the 2020 season, citing underlying conditions that make him high risk for COVID-19. Stewart, who signed a one-year, $800,000 free-agent contract this offseason, is a Type 1 diabetic. He did not appear in any of the Orioles¡¯ first five games this season.

¡°For the time being, I have decided to pause my participation in the 2020 season,¡± Stewart said in a statement. ¡°My elevated risk of serious complications of COVID-19 due to Type 1 diabetes continues to be of great concern.

¡°I am grateful to the organization, as well as my coaches and teammates, for their incredible support.¡±

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said the organization fully supports Stewart¡¯s decision, citing his underlying conditions. The Orioles replaced Stewart on their 30-man roster with right-hander Thomas Eshelman, who Hyde said would slide into a long man role.

¡°We¡¯ve had a lot of discussions the last few days,¡± Hyde said. ¡°I am going to keep those private. I just want him to know I¡¯ll support any decision he makes. This is a personal decision, and I will be fully supportive in anything he decided to do.¡±

¡°He¡¯s had some concern about this,¡± Hyde added.

Stewart, 25, was being prepared for a swingman role. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, he went 4-3 with a 4.79 ERA in 17 games from 2018-19 with the Twins.

Closer situation
Things didn¡¯t go as smoothly for Cole Sulser in his second save chance as they did in his first, with Sulser allowing Aaron Judge¡¯s game-winning, three-run homer in the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday night to blow his first save in two chances. Hyde said the 30-year-old right-hander will continue to get high-leverage chances, including in the ninth inning.

¡°I really like his stuff,¡± Hyde said. ¡°In his brief, brief career, he¡¯s gotten right-handers and left-handers out. He did a nice job in Boston, so I gave him another opportunity.¡±

Acquired on a waiver claim from Tampa Bay last October, Sulser recorded a six-out save in his first Orioles appearance last weekend in Boston. He entered the year with only seven games of big league experience; the Judge homer amounted to the only runs he¡¯s allowed in the big leagues in 10 1/3 innings.

The Orioles' bullpen isn¡¯t at full strength right now, with the club slow-playing Hunter Harvey given his right elbow soreness. He remains on a progression at the club¡¯s alternate training site in Bowie, Md., while Hyde has handed high-leverage situations to Mychal Givens, Richard Bleier and others. Their situation in the late innings remains fluid, as it did for long stretches in 2019.

¡°I am going to give a lot of guys opportunities because we don¡¯t have much experience down there,¡± Hyde said. ¡°A lot of these guys haven¡¯t pitched many games in the big leagues. We¡¯re hoping to find roles for these guys. That would be ideal. Until then, we¡¯ll try to mix and match the best we can.¡±

Iglesias out again
Citing a continuing bout with left quad soreness, Hyde held veteran shortstop José Iglesias out of the lineup Friday for the second straight day. Hyde said Iglesias, the Orioles¡¯ best hitter in the early going, could be available for pinch-hitting duties off the bench. Iglesias went 8-for-16 (.500) with four doubles over the club¡¯s first four games.

¡°Iggy is feeling better today, but he¡¯s still day to day,¡± Hyde said. ¡°We don¡¯t want to push anything right now.¡±