Backup catcher Gary Sanchez's return to Baltimore Orioles lineup potentially coming this weekend

Some good news is brewing on the Orioles' end, as he has backup catcher Gary Sanchez progressing quickly as he returns from a right wrist inflammation. Sanchez was originally put on the 10-day injured list in late April, and if Sanchez returns to the active roster, it may happen a lot earlier than anticipated, giving the red-hot Orioles a nice depth and experience boost behind the plate.

That positive news comes at a good time as this team struggles through a tough stretch of games.

Gary Sanchez's expedited recovery

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n April 28, 2025, Gary Sanchez was placed on the 10-day injured list to allow him to best recover from lingering inflammation in his right wrist. That has unofficially put more onus on #1 catcher Adley Rutschman. Still, Sanchez's stint with Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab assignment has given plenty of reason to be optimistic.The improvement has been impressive, showing the benefits of the time off and treatment for the stress reaction in his wrist. Sanchez is a perfect 8-for-20 with three home runs in six rehab games with the Tides, so it appears his power and timing have returned nicely. That performance, and positive reports from the Orioles' reports here, have moved him quickly toward a return to the Major League club.

As MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko recently noted, "Sounds like Gary Sanchez could come off IL this weekend instead of road trip."

Impact on the Orioles' roster and upcoming series

The Orioles are about to get a significant boost to their roster here shortly, as Sanchez can provide the team with some much-needed depth behind the plate and another powerful stick to swing off the bench. Of course, Sanchez gives you the option to rest Adley Rutschman a couple of times a week, and maybe use Sanchez in a pinch hit situation, but one way or another, they're both going to play a ton of games behind the plate for the duration of a long season and get their at bats in other situations as well.Also Read: Manager Brandon Hyde is gone—can a healthier rotation and improved offense turn Baltimore Orioles' seasonSanchez was hitting just .100 in 13 games, a stat he had blamed on his sore wrist. His return will benefit from a healthy few months, as well as the confidence of a successful rehab stint, and he could provide a lot more in terms of offense. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Thursday that Sanchez has "a good chance" to be activated by the end of the Orioles' homestand this weekend, potentially as soon as this upcoming series against the Los Angeles Angels.The Orioles are still playing at a high level, and with Sanchez being a power-hitting catcher, the timing of his return does not come at a better time as they continue to make a push further into the summer.