Nolan Reimold's return to the Orioles roster, where he slotted into the lineup as the starting left fielder Tuesday, is a call-up that means a little more than a typical June summons from Triple-A.
A neck injury suffered in 2012 that lingered into 2013 and 2014 made it so that his last four years have been, in some way, limited by injury. Reimold is a long way from the player who debuted with 15 home runs as a rookie in 2009, but a return to the Orioles' roster in any form was always the goal.
"It's been a long, winding road, I guess," Reimold said. "I made it back. It's been a goal of mine to get back here for a long time. I made it, and it feels good to be here. I'm really happy things worked out."
Reimold credits the Orioles for sticking with him and helping him reach full health this year.
"There's not too much loyalty in professional sports, but I feel a sense of loyalty here in Baltimore," he said.
But he and manager Buck Showalter are on the same page as to why he's back with the Orioles, and that has nothing to do with loyalty.
"We all like Nolan and his story, but this isn't some charity," Showalter said. "We think he can help us.
"We've been looking for a way to get him here, and [he's] just a good fit in the time being. We hope he finishes the year with us. We think he's got a chance to help us. ... [He's a] right-handed bat and a guy that's capable of doing a lot of things, can play a lot of places. He's performing and running really good, just like we know what Nolan can do. He did everything we asked him to do and then some."
Reimold took the 25-man roster spot of left-hander Cesar Cabral.
Tuesday was Reimold's first start for the Orioles since July 13, 2013. He had two major league stints in 2014 — with the Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks — after the Orioles tried to remove him from the 40-man roster after his rehab assignment ended.
He was re-signed in the offseason and hit well in spring training this year for the Orioles, but was sent to Triple-A Norfolk and waited for a place in the Orioles' crowded, if not entirely productive, outfield corps.
At Norfolk, Reimold hit .286/.351/.389 with 12 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs in 46 games. Over his last 14 games, Reimold batted .422 (19-for-45).
Reimold said he wasn't thinking about a call-up, instead appreciating the fact that he was getting everyday at-bats for the first time in several seasons.
"Norfolk is not a very easy place to hit at," Reimold said. "You can ask anybody down there. The wind had been howling in nine out of 10 days. The biggest thing for me had been to play consistently and get some consistent at-bats while being healthy. Eventually, things started to click in and I went on a little run there."
Now, he said, he's ready to jump into the lineup and help the Orioles in a manner many have expected of him for years.
"Like everybody says, it's a cliché, but I want to go out there and contribute to the team and help the team win," Reimold said. "I really feel like I'm at the point where I can do that. The key for me is to stay on the field. So far I've been able to do that, knock on wood, so hopefully it goes well."
Wieters glad to be back
Perhaps the final step of Matt Wieters' year-long road back from last June's Tommy John surgery was Tuesday's home debut, his first game at Camden Yards since last May 10.
"I'm excited," Wieters said. "This is a great place to play, and I've been looking forward to getting back playing, but also looking forward to getting back playing at Camden Yards for a long time now. I'm ready to go and excited we have a great series here against Boston."
Wieters has spent plenty of time around the team at Camden Yards both last summer and this spring. On Tuesday, he came back to the ballpark looking to continue the hot start he got off to following his activation from the disabled list on Friday.
In three games, Wieters is batting .417 (5-for-12) with a home run and three RBIs, adding an instant power presence to the heart of the Orioles' lineup.
"It's always helpful to get off to a nice start, whether it's in April or June," Wieters said. "It gives you a good feeling, but at the same time, it's a long season. It's not a six-month season for me this year, but it's still a long season with a lot of games to play."
Minor leaguer suspended
Virgilio Encarnacion, a 23-year-old right-hander playing for the Orioles' team in the Dominican Summer League, was suspended 72 games without pay for violating the minor league drug policy, MLB announced Tuesday.
Encarnacion tested positive for a metabolite of Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance, the league said. Encarnacion is 0-1 with a save and a 9.00 ERA in three appearances this year. Over four seasons in the DSL with the Diamondbacks and Orioles, Encarnacion is 4-5 with a 2.66 ERA in 47 appearances.
Around the horn
With left-hander Brian Matusz suspended, the decision to option Cabral for Reimold leaves the Orioles with just two left-handed relievers — closer Zach Britton and T.J. McFarland — and a shorter bullpen than they'd typically carry. … Matusz was scheduled to throw three innings Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla. … Left-hander Wesley Wright (shoulder) is nearing a rehab assignment, Showalter said.