BOWIE — Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph, who went on the disabled list two weeks ago following emergency surgery to repair his testicle after being hit by a fouled pitch, will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday at High-A Frederick.
Joseph still can't catch in a game until June 27 – which marks four weeks since the incident – but he was cleared Wednesday to do all other baseball activities. So he will initially serve as a designated hitter for the Keys, logging at-bats until he is able to catch again.
"I would best compare it to a scab," Joseph said Wednesday. "You have a cut and you have a scab, and if you bump up against something, the scab may rip open. It's more or less, I can physically do things now, but what we're trying to avoid before that four-week period is another freak accident where I do get jarred in those four weeks where it could get re-injured."
On Wednesday, he spent his second day working out at Double-A Bowie, where he hit in the cage, took live batting practice, ran the bases and lightly threw. He made throws to the bases for the first time, including throws to second to Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is on his rehab assignment at Bowie.
"Threw him a bunch of one-hoppers, so he could work on his tagging," Joseph said with a smile. "This is a unique situation. I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a guy who goes on the DL who is physically able to play, but not able to play."
He will do the same routine Thursday before reporting to Frederick on Friday, which will officially being his rehab assignment.
Joseph will also be able to catch bullpen sessions starting Friday, which will allow Joseph to get his legs under him before resuming catching in games.
"A bullpen is a totally different situation because knowing the pitcher and getting back there with full gear on if they do throw a pitch in the dirt, you can be fully prepared to get out of the way," Joseph said. "I'm not going to try to get down and block it yet. As it gets to the fourth week, we'll start doing some blocking drills, but I'll be able to catch bullpens."
Once he can resume catching, Joseph said he doesn't expect to need many games – he estimated two or three – to be ready to be activated from the DL. He's focused on returning during the Orioles' road series in Seattle from June 30 to July 3.
"You just kind of have to see what the body tells you, but in terms of stamina, if you're starting to catch bullpens and starting to get into that kind of mode, you can build stamina catching a bullpen the same as in a game," Joseph said. "Obviously, it's a little different, but that's the motion you're looking for – a squat up and down – getting stretched out."
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