The Orioles optioned Hunt to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
Though Hunt will temporarily move off the 26-man active roster to clear a spot for trade-deadline pickup Gregory Soto, he won't report to Norfolk right away and will remain part of the Orioles' taxi squad, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. Backup catcher James McCann has been medically cleared to play after suffering multiple nose fractures Monday, but if the injury is creating too much discomfort in the coming days, he could be a candidate to go on the injured list. Even if McCann is shelved and Hunt gets recalled in a corresponding move, the 25-year-old backstop would still be in line for limited work behind top catcher Adley Rutschman.
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Orioles' Blake Hunt: Up as catching depth
Rotowire
Hunt was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
James McCann suffered a broken nose via a fastball to the face in Monday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, so Hunt is up to serve as the short-term backup to Adley Rutschman. Hunt would be making his big-league debut if he appears in a game. The 25-year-old backstop is a career .240/.300/.460 hitter with 13 home runs in 74 games at Triple-A over the last two seasons and across three organizations (Rays, Mariners, Orioles).
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Orioles' Blake Hunt: Comes off 7-day IL
Rotowire
Triple-A Norfolk reinstated Hunt (groin) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Hunt was on the shelf for a little over three weeks with a left groin strain. Norfolk brought Hunt back from the IL after he went 3-for-12 with two doubles, one walk, two runs and one RBI over four rehab games with High-A Aberdeen last week.
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Mariners' Blake Hunt: Moved to Seattle
Rotowire
The Mariners acquired Hunt from the Rays on Monday in exchange for catcher Tatem Levins, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The two organizations are swapping minor-league catchers in the deal, though Hunt will get a spot on the Mariners' 40-man roster while Levins serves as depth in the lower levels of Tampa Bay's system. Hunt will turn 25 later this month and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he slashed .256/.331/.484 with 12 home runs over 282 plate appearances between Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery.
