Orioles place Tommy Hunter on disabled list with left groin strain, recall Preston Guilmet

Following Wednesday night's game, Orioles manager Buck Showalter made a vague allusion to a pitcher dealing with an injury that may result in a disabled list trip. Thursday afternoon, we get our answer, as the Orioles have placed Tommy Hunter on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a left groin strain.

In Hunter's place, reliever Preston Guilmet has been summoned from Norfolk. He made a nice impression in his brief stay previously and now will get more of a chance.

The Orioles were looking to add another relief pitcher even without the move of Hunter to the disabled list. With Brad Brach having been used for four innings in Wednesday's game, he looked like the candidate to be optioned, since the team won't be able to use him for at least a couple of games. Instead, he will get to stick around for at least a little while longer.

With the Dan Duquette-era Orioles, you always have to wonder in the back of your mind just how serious an injury is that results in a short-term DL stay. Hunter hasn't exactly pitched well, managing a 6.06 ERA across 16.1 innings this season. That got him deservedly bumped from the closer spot where he had been installed. Maybe the injury was why he wasn't pitching well, or maybe he was just bad. At any rate, he won't be pitching for the O's for at least the next 14 days.

UPDATE: In Hunter's own words, the groin issue:

Hunter said yesterday was the first day he felt it. No excuses for how he's pitched.

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) May 22, 2014

So I guess he's just been bad. Now he is also hurt. Take your time in rehab, Tommy.