This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Rise in velocity in spring debut
Rotowire
Eflin (back) allowed one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out three.
It was an impressive outing by Eflin, who made his first appearance in game action since undergoing back surgery last year. The 31-year-old right-hander even showcased some increased velocity, with his fastball topping out at 94 mph. If all continues to go smoothly during spring training, Eflin remains on track to dodge the injured list and be part of Baltimore's Opening Day rotation to begin 2026, per Jake Rill of MLB.com.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Set for spring debut Thursday
Rotowire
Eflin (back) is scheduled to make his spring debut in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
Eflin underwent back surgery in August of last year, and he's slated to make his first appearance in game action since July of 2025. The 31-year-old right-hander was Baltimore's Opening Day starter a year ago, but Eflin now finds himself in contention with Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells for the No. 5 rotation spot this spring.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Wednesday that Eflin (back) will be a full participant as spring training gets underway, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Eflin missed the final two months of 2025 due to a back injury that he addressed with lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Aug. 18, but he was cleared to resume throwing off a mound in early January. Baltimore re-signed the veteran righty on a one-year, $10 million deal in October, so Eflin should be ticketed for a back-end rotation spot.
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Slated for mound session next week
Rotowire
Eflin (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Jan. 6, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery in August. Eflin -- who re-signed with the Orioles on Sunday -- has dealt with back issues off-and-on throughout his career and said he felt immediate relief after the operation. His goal is to be ready for Opening Day, but more will be known about his timetable once he's ramped up his throwing. Eflin posted a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings for Baltimore during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
Eflin (back) and the Orioles agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract with a mutual option for 2027 on Sunday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Eflin will stick around Baltimore after spending the 2025 campaign with the team. The right-hander produced an inflated 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 50 strikeouts over 14 starts with the Orioles before undergoing season-ending back surgery in August. Eflin will look to be back to full health in time for spring training and hit the ground running in 2026.
The Orioles announced that Eflin underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Monday in Florida, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Eflin's surgery appears to have gone off without any complications, and the right-hander is optimistic that he'll have a normal offseason after about 12 weeks and rest and rehab. In total, Eflin will face an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-8 months, so he could be at risk of missing spring training and the start of the 2026 season if he veers toward the latter end of that range. Eflin, who went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his 14 starts with the Orioles before landing on the injured list July 31, is set to become a free agent this winter.
... See More... See Less
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Orioles transferred Eflin (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Eflin is out for the season after the Orioles confirmed that he would undergo back surgery during the upcoming week, so his move to the 60-day IL is merely procedural. The veteran right-hander is expected to face a 4-to-8 month recovery from surgery, so his availability for the start of the 2026 season is in question. The 31-year-old is set to become a free agent this winter.
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Recovery to take 4-to-8 months
Rotowire
Eflin will undergo back surgery Monday and is expected to be sidelined 4-to-8 months, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Eflin had already been ruled out for the season after it was revealed he would need lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, and now there's a firmer timetable for the right-hander's recovery. The 31-year-old is hopeful the operation will allow him to put his nagging back issues -- which he revealed Wednesday have been a problem off and on for the past 5-to-6 years -- behind him, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. An impending free agent, Eflin hopes to be ready for the start of spring training, but it's not a given.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Tuesday that Eflin (back) will undergo lumbar microdiscectomy surgery and will miss the rest of the 2025 season, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 31-year-old received an injection to address his lower-back discomfort in early August shortly after landing on the injured list, but he's now headed for season-ending surgery. It was a difficult contract year for Eflin, who had three different stints on the injured list and will close the campaign with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings.
0:23
15:21
0:58
11:34
1:12
0:54
10:19
8:58
12:52
9:04
0:38
1:33
8:56
1:02
9:12
10:13
11:48
1:35
0:50
1:42
