NEW YORK — With center fielder Adam Jones unable to play because of a left hamstring strain, the Orioles added Julio Borbon to the roster and started him in center field for Saturday's matinee against the New York Yankees.
Manager Buck Showalter was asked if adding Borbon instead of riding with reserve outfielder Nolan Reimold in center field meant Jones' injury could linger for several days. Showalter said it was "not the only reason."
Jones had a hamstring cramp that kept him out of the ninth inning Thursday in Washington, then was substituted out in the second inning Friday after aggravating the injury trying to beat out a soft ground ball in the first inning.
"I think Adam, Adam was trying to talk us into playing today," Showalter said. "I think we got him out of there — it's very similar to the day before. I have a feeling if he didn't have that first swinging bunt, he might have played all nine and not been a problem. You know how they wet the field down, and he's not going to trot to first base, as much as I talked to him about it before the game.
"He was here since 1:30, 2 o'clock yesterday. I was watching him sprint around all over the place. It's just a different level you take it to in a game. Heck, who knows? He might could pinch hit today."
Borbon, who was back in Double-A Bowie after playing five games for the Orioles in July, was the major league club's "best option right now," Showalter said.
"He's got some foot speed, he's got some experience in the big leagues here this year," Showalter said. "He was our best option of what we had available.
"We talked about a lot of other options. We had some other center field options — [Chris] Dickerson has only played very little time there, considering how long he's played there. Dariel [Alvarez], too. Borbon was our best option at this point."
Borbon took the 40-man roster spot of Logan Ondrusek, who was designated for assignment Friday. He took the 25-man roster spot of Mike Wright, who pitched three innings of relief Friday. It was the first back-to-back outings of Wright's career after he pitched the eighth inning Thursday.
Showalter said Wright would go back into the Triple-A Norfolk rotation after three days' rest, and is "an option to come back" when rosters expand on Sept. 1.
"I'm sure we'll have some guys not come up, some guys go to Sarasota and those guys come to us," Showalter said.
Saturday marked the fourth straight day with a roster move for the Orioles, who have had to absorb some short starts over the past two weeks, forcing them to keep a fresh bullpen. Showalter said the Orioles wouldn't likely have a six-man bullpen for long, but needed Borbon until they had a handle on Jones' injury.
"I hear that word, shuffling," Showalter said. "What else are you going to do? I was talking to Mike today. We're trying to win here, right? We're trying to keep people healthy. Our starting pitching gets knocked around a bit, and we have to bring people in. But what are you going to do? I hear people talk about it. I don't quite get the connotation. What are you going to do? Somebody's got to pitch. Somebody's got to play."