Baltimore Orioles fans saw how quickly an outlook could change during Thursday's spring training game against the Detroit Tigers. Samuel Basallo, getting some work in behind the plate, was removed from the game after suffering an apparent injury during a play at the plate.
Fresh off handing Basallo an eight-year extension at the end of last season, the idea of him starting the 2026 season on the injured list was a scary thought.
Fortunately, it sounds like Orioles' first-year manager, Craig Albernaz, was taking an overly cautious approach. Albernaz confirmed that Basallo could have stayed in the game under different circumstances, and there wasn't a need for further imaging.