Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Mon 4/29/24 6:06 PM

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Hays (calf) is showing improvement, but the outfielder has yet to take part in much physical activity since landing on the 10-day injured list April 22, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hays is eligible for activation later this week, but he doesn't appear to have made enough progress at this point in his recovery from the left calf strain for his return to be viewed as imminent. Prior to being shelved with the injury, Hays hit just .111 over 45 at-bats on the season and had ceded his spot in the everyday lineup to rookie Colton Cowser.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Fri 4/26/24 3:44 PM

Hays said Friday that he will test out his left calf strain with some running in a couple days, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hays injured his calf last weekend and was eventually placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. He's feeling better, but the real test will come when he does some running and ramps things back up. Before getting injured, Hays had lost his starting job in left field to Colton Cowser.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Mon 4/22/24 7:24 PM

Hays (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.
EDGE Analysis
Hays left Saturday's contest due to tightness in his calf, and after further evaluation, it's been determined that he'll require a trip to the injured list. Manager Brandon Hyde stated after the move that he's hopeful Hays will be ready to be activated from the IL by the time his 10 days are up, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com. David Banuelos had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk and Peyton Burdick was designated for assignment in corresponding moves.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Sat 4/20/24 10:41 PM

Hays was pulled from Saturday's game in Kansas City with calf tightness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hays singled and scored in the top of the seventh inning but evidently his calf began bothering at some point on the bases because Colton Cowser replaced him in left field for the bottom of the frame. It sounds at this point like more of a day-to-day injury, but the timing isn't ideal for Hays since he's already been leap-frogged by Cowser on the left field depth chart.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Sun 4/14/24 10:34 AM

Hays is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hays started in both of the first two games of the series with Milwaukee and went 1-for-6 at the dish, which improved his slash line to a still-abysmal .086/.158/.086 over 38 plate appearances. He seems to have already lost out on a regular role against right-handed pitching to Colton Cowser, though the righty-hitting Hays could make for a natural platoon partner in the outfield with either Cowser or Cedric Mullins, both of whom bat from the left side.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Wed 4/10/24 3:10 PM

Hays is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
EDGE Analysis
Hays will head to the bench for the second straight day and the third time in five contests. Slashing just .077/.172/.077 through his first 29 plate appearances of the season, Hays looks to be at risk of falling into a part-time or backup role, if he hasn't already.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Tue 4/9/24 12:25 PM

Hays is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game at Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hays is 0-for-18 across his past six games and will receive a day to reset Tuesday. Colton Cowser will start in left field and bat seventh.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Sat 4/6/24 12:56 PM

Hays (illness) is starting in left field and batting sixth Saturday against the Pirates.
EDGE Analysis
Hays missed Friday's game due to an illness, but he appears to be over the ailment and will return to left field Saturday. Hays has started the season 2-for-20 with one RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Fri 4/5/24 1:53 PM

Hays is not in Friday's lineup versus the Pirates in part because he's under the weather, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde also believes that Hays -- who is off to a 2-for-18 start at the plate this season -- is pressing a little bit. Hays will be at the ballpark for Friday's game and is considered day-to-day. Colton Cowser is handling left field in his place.

Austin Hays
LF/DH CIN
Fri 4/5/24 12:39 PM

Hays is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.
EDGE Analysis
Hays is without a hit in his past 10 at-bats and is 2-for-18 on the season, and he'll take a seat Friday for the second time in Baltimore's past three games. Top prospect Colton Cowser is receiving another start in left field and is 4-for-8 to begin the campaign, and he could take on a larger role if Hays continues to struggle at the plate.