Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (UCL sprain) to open season on IL

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish will begin the upcoming season on the injured list due to a sprained UCL in his pitching elbow.

Bradish is not alone in nursing an injury for the Orioles.

General manager Mike Elias also announced Thursday that 2023 American League Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson is dealing with an oblique injury and left-hander John Means is behind in his recovery from an elbow injury that caused him to sit out the AL Division Series last October.

Bradish received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow and is expected to start a throwing program on Friday.

"Everything is pointed in the right direction and going well right now at this time. But I'm not at a point where I want to start putting a timeline on when we're going to see him in major league action," Elias said. "Right now, we're prepping him for a lot of action in 2024, and we're getting him ready for that as expeditiously and responsibly as possible, but there's going to be some time involved."

Bradish, 27, finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season after posting a 12-7 record with a 2.83 ERA in 30 starts. He recorded 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 innings.

Henderson, 22, likely will miss two to three weeks with his injury but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. He batted .255 with 28 homers and 82 RBIs in 150 games last season.

Means, 30, went 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA in four games (all starts) last season for the Orioles.