The Baltimore Orioles have acquired outfielder Forrest Wall from the Miami Marlins and designated veteran reliever Dillon Tate for assignment. On August 26th, the Marlins designated Wall for assignment. Previously, Wall played for the Atlanta Braves, and the Orioles have claimed him off waivers. Known for his speed, Wall adds a valuable asset to the Orioles’ roster.
Wall, who ranks in the 93rd percentile for sprint speed, brings a left-handed bat and impressive Triple-A statistics, including 16 stolen bases and a .380 on-base percentage. The Orioles plan to utilize Wall’s speed in the postseason, especially with Heston Kjerstad still recovering from a concussion. Wall, who has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, could also be a key pinch runner and a valuable player against right-handed pitchers. Additionally, Wall has experience both as an outfielder and an infielder, adding versatility to the team.
In other Orioles news, utility player Jorge Mateo has undergone successful, season-ending surgery on his left elbow. Mateo, who was injured on July 24th after a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson, had been on the injured list and faced uncertainty regarding the need for surgery due to severe swelling The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, and Mateo will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Mateo was a crucial defensive player for the Orioles this season, contributing Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base. Over 68 games, he had a .229/.267/.401 batting line with five home runs, 18 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Jordan Westburg initially filled in at second base but suffered a hand fracture. Jackson Holliday has since taken over as the everyday second baseman, with Ramón Urías stepping in at third base.
Typically, recovery from ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is shorter for position players than for pitchers. Since Mateo injured his non-throwing arm, he might have a quicker recovery and could potentially return in some capacity by early 2025.
