Orioles place backup catcher James McCann on injured list, potentially adding to Adley Rutschman’s plate

James McCann caught four innings for the Orioles on Saturday after suffering what proved to be a sprained left ankle. McCann, a 33- year-old who was acquired this offseason in a trade with the New York Mets, has played 31 games for the Orioles, hitting. 194 with a. 576 OPS across 100 plate appearances. The Orioles selected the contract for José Godoy, who was already in...

James McCann caught four innings for the Orioles on Saturday after suffering what proved to be a sprained left ankle. It will be at least 10 days before he catches another.

Baltimore placed its backup backstop on the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs, a day after McCann twisted his left ankle sliding feet-first into first base on an infield single in the second inning. He stayed in the game until he was pinch-hit for in the sixth.

McCann, a 33-year-old who was acquired this offseason in a trade with the New York Mets, has played 31 games for the Orioles, hitting .194 with a .576 OPS across 100 plate appearances.

“I think we’re hoping it’s just gonna be the 10 days,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s an ankle sprain. He stayed in the game yesterday with that ankle sprain because he knew that I would’ve had to put [starting pitcher Kyle] Gibson in his spot to hit, so when his spot came around, that’s when I hit for him, but he went back there and caught a couple innings with the sprain, so hat’s off to him and shows you what kind of veteran teammate he is.”

The Orioles selected the contract for José Godoy, who was already in Chicago on their taxi squad, to serve as Adley Rutschman’s temporary backup. Right-hander Reed Garrett was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Godoy.

Godoy, 28, becomes the sixth catcher to spend time on Baltimore’s active roster this year, with Anthony Bemboom making the opening-day roster after McCann suffered a left oblique injury late in spring training. After McCann’s return, Luis Torrens was briefly on the roster as a third catcher but never appeared in a game, while Mark Kolozsvary played one defensive inning for the Orioles. Both Torrens and Kolozsvary elected free agency after being designated for assignment.

Godoy is a career .123/.194/.140 hitter in 26 games with Seattle, Minnesota and Pittsburgh between 2021 and 2022. He was traded from the New York Yankees’ Triple-A team to the organization earlier this month.

“Met him yesterday,” Hyde said. “Bounced around a little bit, caught some Major League games, so we have a guy that’s at least gone back there in the big leagues. Left-handed bat, that’s helpful.”

McCann’s absence could mean more time behind the plate for Rutschman, Baltimore’s young star. The 25-year-old has played in all but two of the Orioles’ 70 games, making 53 appearances at catcher and often starting at designated hitter when not behind the plate.

“We’re getting through today,” Hyde said when asked how the roster moves will affect Rutschman’s usage. “And then we have an off-day [Monday], and we’ll kind of figure some things out as we go along.”

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