Orioles Outfielder Suffers Knee Contusion After Direct Hit To Kneecap

The Baltimore Orioles look like they may have dodged a bullet on Monday afternoon.

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander suffered a left knee contusion during a Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.

He was hit directly on the kneecap by a pitch from Garrett Cleavinger, a former Orioles farmhand. Santander fell to the ground but was able to walk off the field with the help of the assistant athletic trainer. Robert Neustrom replaced Santander as a pinch-runner.

Anthony Santander just took a pitch directly off his left knee cap. He's walking off his own with a slight limp. He's coming out of the game, which he would have done anyway after getting his requisite number of plate appearances.
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) February 27, 2023

At the moment, Santander is considered day-to-day and is expected to miss a game or two of Grapefruit League action. However, it is not believed that the injury will keep him out for an extended period, and he should be able to return to the lineup in a day or two.

Manager Brandon Hyde provided further reassurance, stating that he thinks Santander is okay and has a contusion on the knee. Santander is set to leave camp next Monday to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

The twenty-eight-year-old is coming off a strong 2022 showing, which saw him post a .240/.318/.455 triple-slash line, 33 home runs, 89 RBIs and 78 runs scored over 152 games.

Mafia Mafiaaaa Members…. This weeks addition of Hump Day Savants is a man who is still flying under radars. The man absolutely mashes and is in an exciting offense. The man the myth the legend Anthony Santander. #baseball #mafiaup #fantasybaseball pic.twitter.com/KU6M8dOA8L
— Watch List Mafia (@watchlist_mafia) February 23, 2023