Outfielder was returned from his minor league rehab a signment by the Orioles today, per a club announcement. ONeill was due to a shoulder impingement nearly a month ago, but last week and seemed to be nearing a return to action prior to todays news. He had sat out recent games due to renewed sorene s in his shoulder, however, and now has been pulled off his rehab a signment entirely. relays that ONeill will be shut down from all baseball activity for one week and has already received an injection in his AC joint. The news is a clear sign that the Orioles should not expect ONeills return anytime soon. While an estimated timetable for his return to the field wont be Josh Hart Jersey known until after this shutdown period ends, it should be expected hell need to resume building up with lighter baseball activities before hes in position for the Orioles to consider a new rehab a signment. Position players can be on a rehab a signment for a maximum of 20 days before they have to be pulled back or activated from the IL, so once he begins playing in rehab games again the countdown to his return can resume in earnest. Until then, Baltimores outfield will be without its top right-handed option. The team signed ONeill to a three-year, $49.5MM deal in free agency over the offseason as a way to help make up for the lo s of from their lineup and complement a heavily left-handed outfield mix that features , , and on a regular basis. ONeill made plenty of sense as a complement to that trio given his excellent numbers against left-handed pitching, but things havent worked out so well in year one of his contract with the Orioles. The outfielder has been limited to just 24 games by injuries this year, and even when hes been healthy enough to take the field hes hit a paltry .188/.280/.325 (70 wRC+) with just two home runs in 93 plate appearances. Its a far cry from the production he offered the Red Sox last year, when he slugged 31 homers in 113 games and posted a 131 wRC+ overall. While that sort of performance can obviously be transformational for a lineup, the Orioles would likely benefit from even a more modestly productive version of ONeill as long as he can get healthy enough to return to the outfield. The Orioles have been the least productive offense against left-handed pitching in the American League this year, and their 62 wRC+ is ahead of only the lowly Rockies in the majors as a whole. ONeill is a career .261/.366/.524 hitter against southpaws, so even a diminished version of him could be a huge boost to the lineup. Until he returns, however, the Orioles appear likely to continue relying on to fill ONeills role as a lefty-mashing outfielder. Laureano has excelled in Baltimore this year with a 139 wRC+ in 133 plate appearances, though the longtime lefty masher has actually gotten most of his production against right-handed pitching this year with below-average numbers against opposite-handed pitching. That makes him an imperfect complement to the Orioles otherwise all-lefty outfield, but until ONeill returns the club doesnt have many clearly better options. Derrick Favors Jersey