ATLANTA -- The Orioles have not yet seen the version of Tyler O'Neill they were expecting when they signed the 30-year-old outfielder to a three-year, $49.5 million deal in December. However, the club is optimistic it’s about to soon get more production from the slugger.
O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list prior to Friday’s 3-2 win in the series opener vs. the Braves. Batting eighth as the designated hitter, O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. It marked his first MLB game action since May 15 due to a left shoulder impingement.
“I feel a lot better physically,” O’Neill said before the game. “I was able to play some Minor League games, I recovered well through every game. Starting to find the barrel again. Just really looking forward to joining these guys again and playing some baseball every day.”
Although O’Neill has experienced 16 stints on the injured list during his eight-year big league career, most of the trips to the IL before this season had been short, allowing him to still put together productive campaigns. But he hasn’t stayed healthy enough to do that in 2025.
O’Neill played 18 games before going on the injured list with neck inflammation on April 26 (retroactive to April 24). He came back and played only six games before returning to the IL due to his shoulder ailment.
Over his first 24 games for Baltimore, O’Neill hit .188 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBIs and a .605 OPS. Known for mashing left-handers, the right-handed hitter has uncharacteristically slashed .087/.160/.087 in 25 plate appearances against southpaws.
Better health could allow a return to form for O’Neill, who slugged 88 homers in 419 games from 2021-24 (including 31 in 113 games for the Red Sox last year).
“To me, it sounds like it’s 110%. He feels good,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “There’s a chance he comes out Day One and just bangs. There’s a chance it might take a couple games to get back to Major League pitching. Nonetheless, we got him back. It’s a really good Major League player with a great track record and we’re excited to have him here.”
It’s been a challenging stretch for O’Neill. He played 10 rehab games (four for Triple-A Norfolk, five for Double-A Chesapeake and one for High-A Aberdeen), but his assignment was paused from June 10-22 after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection. He previously had only gotten a cortisone shot.
“It’s been frustrating, for sure. I was just trying to focus on rehab and crushing what I can do on a day-to-day basis,” O’Neill said. “But really thankful for that dedication that I’ve put in the last segment of time. Obviously, we have a really good medical staff here, so just thankful for everyone on board to get me to the position I’m in now.
“Like I said, just ready to play and show up every day now.”
The Orioles got another right-handed boost at Truist Park as Jordan Westburg also returned to the lineup. He made an immediate impact -- recording three hits, including a solo homer -- while batting second and playing third base. The 26-year-old reaggravated his sprained left index finger sliding into second base last Friday vs. the Rays at Camden Yards, causing him to miss the next five games.
Westburg initially sustained the sprain on a slide into second on June 21 at Yankee Stadium.