Orioles outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds, on the disabled list from June 2 to July 11 with a herniated disk in his neck, has only two at-bats since returning, and manager Ray Miller sounded yesterday as though his patience was wearing thin.

"I need him to be ready to go. If he's not able to play, we'll have to do something," Miller said.

The outfielder left the July 13 game against Toronto after feeling some tingling down his left arm while striking out in the first inning. He singled and scored in the fourth before leaving in the sixth.

Power-hitting prospect Danny Clyburn and former White Sox outfielder Lyle Mouton are waiting at Triple-A Rochester if Hammonds goes back on the DL.

Pub Date: 7/22/98