A familiar face returned to the Orioles' clubhouse on Monday. Second baseman Brian Roberts joined the club on their flight from St. Petersburg to Baltimore on Sunday after spending almost five weeks rehabbing his surgically repaired right hamstring at the club's affiliate in Sarasota.
Brian Roberts injury: Orioles 2B in ‘homestretch’ of hamstring rehab
The veteran infielder is back in the O’s clubhouse and should begin a minor-league assignment soon, barring any setbacks.
USA TODAY Sports
More O's: Kevin Gausman Isn't This Bad
Roberts is still a ways from actually joining his teammates on the field -- there is no set timeframe for his return at the moment -- the veteran second baseman believes that he is in the "homestretch" of his rehab, reports Rich Dubroff of CSN Baltimore.
Maddon calls Lackey a "bad teammate"
Rays manager Joe Maddon had some choice words for Red Sox right-hander John Lackey after Monday's game. Roberts, 35, began the year in good health for the first time since 2009, but lasted only three games before finding himself on the disabled list yet again. Roberts, who dealt with post-concussion symptoms for the past two-plus seasons, managed to rupture a tendon behind his right knee while stealing second base in the ninth inning of the O's April 4 contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Roberts went under the knife shortly after enduring the injury, and was given a tentative timeline of six weeks for when he could return to the field. The infielder’s return to Baltimore does not mean that his recovery time has sped up at all, but it is a good indication that he could be back with the club before too long.
Roberts will be reevaluated next week, after which he could embark on a rehab assignment of anywhere from two to five games, much shorter than the 20-game assignment he was placed on last season. The three-headed monster of Ryan Flaherty, Yamaico Navarro, and Alexi Casilla have filled in at second in Roberts' absence, but have not provided much in the way of offense.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
