Orioles DH Trumbo to begin season on injured list

Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo will open the season on the injured list, manager Brandon Hyde confirmed Sunday.

Trumbo, who led the majors with 47 home runs in 2016, has batted .167 in 13 plate appearances this spring as he recovers from offseason surgery on his right knee.

"We're going to let him continue to do his rehab down here," Hyde told reporters in Sarasota, Fla., according to MLB.com. "I give him so much credit for everything he's done during his whole rehab process. Give him a ton of credit for trying to come back from a tough injury earlier than anybody has."

Trumbo, 33, is a two-time All-Star (2012, 2016) with a .250 career average, 218 home runs and 626 RBIs in 1,085 games with the Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners and Orioles.

Trumbo was limited to 90 games last season, starting the season on the injured list with a quad strain and ending it with a knee injury. He had surgery on the knee in September.

"I want Mark to be healthy when he joins us," Hyde said. "I don't want a lesser version, and it's not fair to him."

The Orioles open the season Thursday against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Right-hander Alex Cobb, who is scheduled to start Opening Day, left Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins with soreness in his right groin.

Hyde said a decision on Cobb's status would be made soon, adding that right-hander Andrew Cashner would start if Cobb is unavailable.

--Field Level Media