Orioles Promote Sam Huff, Cut Jayvien Sandridge from Roster

The Baltimore Orioles made a roster change Wednesday that reshuffles their catching depth and opens a 40-man roster spot. The club selected catcher Sam Huff from Triple-A Norfolk and designated left-hander Jayvien Sandridge for assignment.

Roster moves and immediate effects

Lefty Nick Raquet was optioned to Norfolk to create active roster space for Huff. With the move, the Orioles will be short a reliever for at least one game.

Huff joins Samuel Basallo and Maverick Handley as the club’s third catcher. Adley Rutschman began last week on the injured list due to an ankle issue.

Sam Huff: background and performance

Baltimore signed Huff to a minor league contract in January. The 28-year-old is a former Rangers seventh-round pick who has appeared in parts of five major league seasons.

In the majors, Huff owns a .247/.301/.430 slash line across 272 plate appearances. That line includes a 36 percent strikeout rate and an unusually high .350 batting average on balls in play.

Huff has shown solid pitch framing in limited big-league work. He has struggled with blocking and the running game, with an 18.5 percent caught-stealing rate and eight passed balls in 507 innings.

His Triple-A résumé is stronger. Across 1,200 Triple-A plate appearances, he hit .258/.338/.476 with 56 home runs, 60 doubles, and a 10.2 percent walk rate.

This year with Norfolk, Huff has struggled in a small sample. In nine games and 36 plate appearances, he hit .156/.250/.168.

Jayvien Sandridge: profile and DFA details

Sandridge, 27, joined Baltimore via a cash trade with the Angels shortly after Opening Day. The lefty was originally a 2018 32nd-round pick by the Orioles and has moved through several organizations.

He made a very brief major-league debut last season, facing six hitters and recording two outs. His big-league total stands at two-thirds of an inning with two earned runs allowed.

In seven minor league seasons, Sandridge has thrown 243 1/3 innings with a 3.96 ERA. He has shown swing-and-miss ability, but command issues are evident in a 17 percent walk rate, 44 wild pitches, and 22 hit batters.

This year with Norfolk, he tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings but walked three of nine batters faced. Scouting data show his heater has averaged 92.9 mph in 2026, down from about 95.6 mph last year.

What happens next for Sandridge

The club has five days to trade Sandridge or place him on outright waivers. Waiver processing takes about 48 hours, so his fate should be clear within a week.

Given his strikeout ability and left-handed profile, a waiver claim or cash swap could interest teams seeking bullpen depth. Sandridge is in the second of three minor league option years.

Context and implications

These moves reflect a short-term need behind the plate while Rutschman recovers. The shift also prioritizes catching depth over relief depth for the moment.

Filmogaz.com will monitor any follow-up transactions and waiver outcomes. The Orioles promoted Sam Huff and cut Jayvien Sandridge from the 40-man picture as the club adjusts to injuries and roster limits.