Ceddanne Rafaela, a guy who’s been a rock of perfect health through his young big league career, just got hit with a tight right quad. That forced him to sit out last night’s win in Baltimore, a truly annoying setback. While the team isn’t throwing him on the IL just yet, coach Chad Tracy made it clear Rafaela’s going to get plenty of time off to recover. Honestly, with not much on the line for the rest of the season for him, taking it easy makes sense.
Day-to-Day Rafaela and the Pitching Carousel
Tracy said Rafaela is “day to day” and will get “treatment like crazy” as they gauge his progress. They’re not putting him back out there until they see some real improvement. It’s a bummer, for sure, seeing a consistent player sidelined. But it’s not all doom and gloom on the injury front, apparently. Tanner Houck, who’s been completely MIA for over a calendar year, pitched in some “Bridge League” game this week (what even *is* the Bridge League?). He’s slated to throw another simulated game today, and if that goes well, he’s hoping to start a rehab assignment next week. That’s a journey and a half for him.
Meanwhile, Garrett Crochet is also taking a baby step forward, throwing his first bullpen session today. But don’t get too hyped, because it sounds like Crochet is still way behind Houck. Tracy even noted it won’t be “an excessive amount of pitches” for Crochet, calling it his “first time off the slope, actually pitching off the slope, not just playing catch.” He’s basically just testing the waters. Look, while it’s nice to hear these guys are moving forward, let’s be real: I’m not getting my hopes up about either Houck or Crochet being big contributors down the stretch. The pitching staff could use a shot in the arm right about now, but expecting a lot from these two might be asking for too much.
Unexpected Heroes and Breakout Moments
On a brighter note, not every story is about injuries. The journey of Mickey Gasper, who signed for a measly $5,000, has been absolutely wild. His scout, Matt Hyde, isn’t surprised by his ascent at all. Hyde talked about a “common thread of makeup, and the desire to be at the park and put the work in and just never give up.” He added, “Even getting sent back down to Worcester and then being brought back up and hitting another home run, it’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s no surprise.’” That’s the kind of gritty story you love to see!
Last night, though, it was Adley Rutschman who was the home run hero. His breakout game happening at Camden Yards? You can’t make this stuff up, it’s fitting. Rutschman loved the Baltimore crowd, saying, “The people of Baltimore have always treated me with an unbelievable amount of respect and love.” He “always felt that when I was here.” Sometimes, the game just feels right, doesn’t it?
As the season winds down, with Rafaela getting treatment and Houck trying to make it back after over a year, the focus has to be on finding those sparks. Maybe Gasper keeps crushing it, or Rutschman catches fire. The pitching definitely needs a boost, and if Houck could somehow contribute to the postseason, that would be an epic comeback story. We’ll be watching to see if any of these guys can turn the tide!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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