Hays is on the injured list since April 22 with a left calf strain. He was 5-for-45 with no extra-base hits and a .311 OPS in 19 games.
The recent at-bats were producing more solid contact and he collected a hit in each of his last two games. He tweaked the knee running from first to third base against the Royals on April 20 in Kansas City and decided he couldn’t cover the necessary ground in left field, which led to Colton Cowser as a defensive replacement and a trip to the IL.
Hays ramped up baseball activities Thursday at Camden Yards, sprinting between bases and taking batting practice on the field.
“Everything’s been going good,” he said that day. “I’ve been up to 90 percent of my game speed, so getting really close. Just got to check a couple more boxes, but everything we’ve done so far, there have been no setbacks, nothing negative. I think we’re getting really close.”
The past few days at Bowie sealed it. He’s ready to face opposing pitching in games.
Hays probably won’t require a full rehab assignment. The club can provide more information before Tuesday’s game in D.C.
There’s lots of time for Hays to salvage 2024. He’s fought multiple illnesses going back to spring training and was 4-for-29 in the Grapefruit League.
Hays was a first-time All-Star last summer and a finalist for a Gold Glove in left field. He also is a former No. 1 prospect in the system who played for the Baysox from 2017-19 and batted .283/.319/.512 with 34 doubles, four triples, 31 home runs and 108 RBIs 144 games.
For ticket information, call 301-805-6000, or visit Baysox.com.
* Right-hander Yohan Ramírez was claimed off waivers today by the Mets. This is reunion for the right-hander, who went from the Mets to the Orioles on April 11 in a cash transaction.
Ramírez allowed four runs in six innings over five appearances. The Orioles designated him for assignment on Thursday while reinstating Bradish from the 15-day injured list.
Today is Ramírez’s 29th birthday.
