The Orioles Yusei Kikuchi Jersey announced theyve claimed right-hander off release waivers from the Giants. San Francisco had placed him on waivers over the weekend when they selected onto the big league roster. The Os optioned Avila to Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the minor league injured list with a shoulder impingement. Injured players cannot be placed on outright waivers. To take Avila off the 40-man roster, the Giants either needed to place him on the MLB 60-day injured list (which would require paying him at the $740K league minimum rate for however long hes out) or release him. They chose the latter route. The Giants may have wanted to bring Avila back on a minor league deal, but released players first need to go unclaimed on waivers before they hit free agency. The Orioles had an open spot on their 40-man roster after last week. Theyll use that to stash Avila in Norfolk while he rehabs the shoulder problem. Its not clear how long the 64 righty will be sidelined; he last pitched for the Giants Triple-A club on May 29. Avila, who turns 27 in July, changes teams for the first time in his career. The Giants drafted him in the 26th round in 2019. A Long Beach State product, Avila reached the majors in early April. He allowed 12 runs (11 earned) through his first 11 2/3 MLB frames, though he fanned 14 hitters against three walks. Avilas fastball sat in the 94-95 MPH range, while he also showed a cutter and a knuckle-curve. The righty spent all of last season working with San Franciscos top minor league team. He allowed an even three earned runs per nine over 72 frames, striking out 21.3% of batters faced with a solid 46.2% grounder rate. Avila walked 12% of opposing hitters, but hed shown slightly better control in his limited work this year before the shoulder injury. Tayler Scott Jersey