Mateo will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Mateo was a somewhat surprising inclusion on the Orioles' Opening Day roster after seeing limited Grapefruit League action as he worked his way back from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non-throwing elbow. He entered Thursday's contest late on defense and will get the start in the second game of the series.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Makes roster after all
Rotowire
The Orioles included Mateo (elbow) on their season-opening 26-man active roster, and he'll be available off the bench in Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.
Just one day earlier, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun noted that Mateo didn't have a locker in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre, which seemed to suggest that the 29-year-old wouldn't be included on the Opening Day roster after logging just 11 at-bats in the Grapefruit League while recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non-throwing elbow. However, Mateo told Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com that he feels ready to play after logging extra at-bats in Florida in recent days, and the Orioles are apparently confident enough in his health, too. Mateo projects to handle a utility role for the Orioles, with most of his starts likely to come against left-handed pitching.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Won't be on Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Mateo (elbow) will not be on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The Orioles had left open the possibility that Mateo could be ready even though he wasn't cleared for Grapefruit League games until mid-March, but the 29-year-old needs a little more time. Livan Soto is expected to fill a utility role while Mateo is out.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Cleared for spring debut
Rotowire
Mateo (elbow) is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Sunday's split-squad game against the Phillies, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mateo underwent UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow in late August and will be making his first start of spring training. The 29-year-old hasn't officially been ruled out for Opening Day, but manager Brandon Hyde recently said Mateo is unlikely to be available.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Nearing spring debut
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Friday that Mateo (elbow) could make his Grapefruit League debut soon but remains doubtful for Opening Day, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Mateo had already essentially been ruled out for the opener, so an injured list stint wouldn't be a surprise. He's making nice progress from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow, though, and will continue his ramp up in games soon.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Not close to playing in games
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo (elbow) went through a full workout Monday but is "still a ways away" from playing in a game, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Hyde said that Mateo "looked great" in the workout, but it does not sound like the Orioles plan to throw him into a Grapefruit League game anytime soon, and perhaps not at all this spring. Mateo is coming back from a UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow. Once healthy, he's projected for a utility role with Baltimore.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Progressing in elbow recovery
Rotowire
Mateo (elbow) has begun hitting in a cage but is still a long shot to be ready by Opening Day, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mateo is working through his recovery from the UCL reconstruction surgery he underwent on his left elbow in late August. He's upgraded from hitting off a tee to in the cage, but it appears the 29-year-old is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day and could begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list. He appeared in 68 regular-season games for the Orioles in 2024 and posted a slash line of .229/.267/.401 with 13 stolen bases, five home runs and 18 RBI across 208 plate appearances.
Mateo swung a bat Monday for the first time since left elbow surgery, hitting balls off a tee, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mateo feels good about where he's at in the rehab process and will continue to ramp up his hitting progression. The Orioles have already ruled the utility player out for Opening Day, although it's not yet clear when he might be ready to make his season debut.
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Not expected for Opening Day
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Mateo (elbow) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mateo's rehab from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow is going well, but he will be held out game action until late in spring training. The 29-year-old's stint on the injured list to begin the season could be relatively brief, and once healthy he will fill a utility role for Baltimore.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
The Orioles agreed to terms with Mateo (elbow) on a one-year contract Tuesday with a club option for 2026 to avoid arbitration.
The deal is worth $3.55 million, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports. As for Mateo's injured left elbow, there is no update as he recovers from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non throwing arm. He may be limited in spring training, and as to how he will be used is up in the air. The utility player will have a conversation with the Orioles on how he will be utilized when spring training commences, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reported Dec. 9.
Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Could be limited in spring training
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that Mateo (elbow) might not be fully recovered for the start of spring training, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
That contradicts what Elias said in October about Mateo's recovery from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow, although the revised timeline does not seem to be the result of a setback. Elias did add that he expected Mateo to be ready for close to a full 162-game schedule. The veteran infielder is slated for a utility role with the Orioles in 2025.
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Orioles' Jorge Mateo: Expected to be ready for spring
Rotowire
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Mateo (elbow) to more or less be full go for the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Mateo required UCL reconstruction surgery on his left elbow in late August for an injury he initially suffered in late July. Because the operation was on his non-throwing elbow, it significantly reduces the recovery time. Mateo is eligible for arbitration for a final time this winter and should be back in a utility role for the Orioles in 2025.
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