The 'Minor' Back Surgery That Chris Bassitt Just Had, And Why the Orioles Need Him Back Fast

Alright, hold up, we gotta talk about what's shaking up in Baltimore, even if it ain't our boys in blue. Big news just dropped from Orioles GM Mike Elias: veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt went under the knife! We're talking back surgery to remove a bone spur. Elias is calling it "pretty minor," but dude, it's surgery. It came after Bassitt tried injections that just didn't cut it, and neither he nor the team were happy with the response.

Bassitt's Back Woes and the Road Ahead

So, yeah, Bassitt's been out of action since June 3. He's currently sitting at 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA through 12 appearances, 10 of those being starts. He just signed with the O's this offseason, coming over after spending three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, and yeah, he was an All-Star back in 2021 with the then-Oakland Athletics! The guy's got a solid career track record, 87-69 with a 3.71 ERA over 12 seasons and 244 appearances. Losing a veteran arm like that, even for a "minor" procedure, can sting.

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But Elias is trying to keep it chill. He said they'll "see where he's at in a couple weeks and see if and when he can start throwing." The vibe is that they're "feeling pretty good about things right there," with a "very strong possibility we get him back in better condition before the end of the season." Man, you gotta hope so. You never want to see a pitcher go down, especially not with back issues.

Adley Rutschman's Return Could Be the Real Game-Changer

Now, while Bassitt is dealing with his recovery, there's some seriously good news bubbling up for the Orioles too. Their superstar catcher, Adley Rutschman, is reportedly getting "close" to returning! He's been sidelined since June 18 after taking a hit to the head while running the bases, which led to a concussion. That's always scary, right? You just want to see guys healthy.

Elias sounded super positive, saying "Adley's doing well" and that things have "improved the last couple of days." This dude is a game-changer. He's a two-time All-Star, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2019 draft, and he's only 28! This season, he's batting .254 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in just 54 games. And get this: his .458 slugging percentage is the best of his five-season career. Talk about stepping up. Getting him back behind the plate and in that lineup is massive.

So, what's the takeaway here? Bassitt's back situation is something to monitor, and we're all rooting for a smooth recovery and a strong return before the season's end. But the potential return of Adley Rutschman, and the fire he brings? That's the kind of news that gets a whole city buzzing. You just love to see impact players coming back strong. This early in the season, every piece matters, and getting a bat like Rutschman's back, especially with that career-best slugging, could really ignite things for the O's. Let's hope for quick recoveries all around!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.