Updating Orioles in the AFL

Updating Orioles in the AFL
Jason Garcia struck out five batters over two scoreless innings today while starting for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. Garcia allowed one hit and walked a batter in the Javelinas' 9-7 loss to Salt River. He threw 23 of his 39 pitches for strikes. Though he made the start today, Garcia will enter spring training next year as a reliever. The Orioles want him to continue developing in that role. Garcia posted a 2.18 ERA in 13 appearances in the second half, with five earned runs allowed in...

Another look at Bowie's rally the last two games to win the championship

Another look at Bowie's rally the last two games to win the championship
If the Double-A Bowie Baysox winning their first Eastern League championship last night was not impressive enough, there are a few other stats that might impress you. During the regular season, Reading went 5-2 against Bowie and scored 40 runs in those five wins. They added nine runs in a Game 3 victory to take a 2-1 series lead. Against that offense, which led the league in runs and needing two straight wins for a championship, Bowie pitching gave up a combined three runs on 10 hits in the...

Dan Duquette on Bowie's title and more after Baysox win Eastern League championship

Dan Duquette on Bowie's title and more after Baysox win Eastern League championship
BOWIE, Md. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was at Prince George's Stadium tonight to watch the Bowie Baysox as they won their first Eastern League championship with a 7-2 victory over Reading in Game 5. Duquette spent some time in the Baysox clubhouse postgame congratulating players and coaches. "The staff here did a great job and we have some real gritty players here that learned how to win," Duquette said. "We had some good veteran players here along with some prospects to...

Mike Yastrzemski on 2015 season and Bowie's pursuit of Eastern League championship

Mike Yastrzemski on 2015 season and Bowie's pursuit of Eastern League championship
When the Double-A Bowie Baysox play at Reading tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski will look for a repeat of the playoff series with Altoona. It was one that was quite good for him and his team. The grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemki, the younger Yaz went 7-for-14 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and five RBIs as Bowie beat Altoona three wins to one. It was the first ever playoff series victory for the Baysox. For Yastrzemski,...

After first playoff series win ever, Bowie Baysox will play for Eastern League title

After first playoff series win ever, Bowie Baysox will play for Eastern League title
For the first time in the 23-year history of the franchise, the Double-A Bowie Baysox won a playoff series. Now, for another first, Bowie will play against Reading for the Eastern League championship starting Tuesday night. Needing one win to take its series with Altoona three wins to one, Bowie got it last night with a 3-0 shutout. Right-hander David Hess pitched a gem, allowing just one hit over seven innings. Andrew Triggs got the last five outs to record a save as Bowie pitched a combined...

O's homer notes; Bowie closes in on franchise first

O's homer notes; Bowie closes in on franchise first
So while I was at Bowie last night, did anything interesting happen at Camden Yards? Well, two grand slams in one inning would classify. Nolan Reimold and Steve Clevenger both hit their first career slams during the Orioles' 10-run eighth inning Friday night in a 14-8 win over Kansas City. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the New York Mets were the last team to hit two grand slams in the same inning when they did so against the Chicago Cubs on July 16, 2006. Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd...

Bowie beats Altoona 7-0 tonight in EL playoffs (Norfolk game suspended)

Bowie beats Altoona 7-0 tonight in EL playoffs (Norfolk game suspended)
The Double-A Bowie Baysox bounced back from last night's tough loss to win 7-0 tonight at Altoona. The win evens their Eastern League playoff series at one victory each in the best-of-five series. It was an important win for Bowie to not fall behind 0-2 in the series and also to rebound from last night when the Baysox led 7-0 in the second inning, but lost 8-7. Baysox outfielder Mike Yastrzemski's solo homer in the first inning gave Bowie the lead. In the fifth, the lead grew to 3-0 on an...

Delmarva third baseman Jomar Reyes will miss time with a thumb injury

Delmarva third baseman Jomar Reyes will miss time with a thumb injury
Single-A Delmarva third baseman Jomar Reyes is going to miss some time with a sprained right thumb that will need to be immobilized for a couple of weeks. The 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic, who is ranked as the No. 10 Orioles prospect by Baseball America, will be placed on the disabled list. This injury will force him to miss the South Atlantic League All-Star Game set for June 23. But the news could have been worse, and there is no break or surgery needed for Reyes. For the...

O's game blog: Orioles look to extend win streak against the Yankees

O's game blog: Orioles look to extend win streak against the Yankees
The Orioles have won six, lost one and tied one in their last eight series against the New York Yankees. They will be able to add another series win to that if they get a victory tonight or tomorrow. New York came to Baltimore with an 11-4 record since May 25 - tied for the best in the majors - but got beat 11-3 last night as the Orioles had 16 hits, went 9-for-19 with runners in scoring position, and Chris Davis homered and drove in four runs. The Orioles offense is finally starting to come...

Mike Yastrzemski: "I think it is important to play with a chip on your shoulder"

Mike Yastrzemski: "I think it is important to play with a chip on your shoulder"
If he had any doubters, Orioles minor league outfielder Mike Yastrzemski must have proved a lot of them wrong last year. He was not selected until round 14 in the 2013 First-Year Player Draf. There were 428 players selected before the Orioles drafted Yastrzemski, a senior from Vanderbilt. But the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski didn't play like a 14th-round pick in 2014, when he began the season at Single-A Delmarva and later moved to both Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. In...

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win over Twins (plus pictures)

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win over Twins (plus pictures)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez's next start falls on Monday, when the Orioles have their only off-day of the spring schedule. Manager Buck Showalter said the right-hander could pitch in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park. Jimenez would be spared another trip to Fort Myers for a Double-A or Triple-A game. "I think he's had enough road travel this year," Showalter said. Here's more from Showalter: On Jimenez's start today: "Better. Each outing, he's been a little better. He had a lot...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles still haven't released their camp roster for spring training, including the invites, because they're continuing to work on it. More decisions were made yesterday. We must remain patient. It sounds as though the Orioles are leaning toward inviting veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson, who had a tryout earlier this month at the minicamp in Sarasota. Hendrickson has lowered his arm slot to the point where he's more of a submarine stylist. Factor in his 6-foot-9 frame and it's quite...

In their search for an outfielder, is the O's guy already here?

In their search for an outfielder, is the O's guy already here?
It is a fair question that some fans have been asking: If the Orioles have an outfielder like Dariel Alvarez that is almost ready for the majors, why not turn right field over to him come April rather than sign another outfielder? After all, Jonathan Schoop won the second base job at spring training last year. Could Alvarez do that in Sarasota this year? While that seems possible, it doesn't seem likely. Alvarez has just one full minor league season under his belt and has played just 44 games...

What the 2015 season might bring for some top O's prospects

What the 2015 season might bring for some top O's prospects
Baseball America released its list of the top 10 Orioles prospects at the end of October. Four players on that top 10 are already on the Orioles' 40-man roster and probably six or more potentially could play for the Orioles this season. Today, let's take a look at what we might see from this group come April. 1) Dylan Bundy, RHP: Bundy is likely to begin the season in Double-A Bowie's rotation. Believe it or not, Bundy has pitched just 16 2/3 innings in his life so far at that level. But...

Duquette talks up Alvarez and Yastrzemski during one-on-one interview (with video)

Duquette talks up Alvarez and Yastrzemski during one-on-one interview (with video)
SAN DIEGO - In his daily video interview today with MASNSports.com at the Winter Meetings, I asked Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette about minor league outfielders Dariel Alvarez and Mike Yastrzemski. Alvarez has been ranked as the organization's No. 5 prospect by Baseball America and Yastrzemski is No. 9. Duquette says both have a chance to impact the big league roster in 2015. "We like Alvarez. I mean he had a great year last year. Made good contact, hit over .300 at Double-A...

A look at where the O's top prospects may play in 2015

A look at where the O's top prospects may play in 2015
Last Monday, Baseball America released its latest list of the Orioles' top 10 prospects. If you didn't see the list the first time, Dylan Bundy tops it for the fourth straight year. Here is a look at the list and where those players might start the 2015 season. 1) Dylan Bundy, RHP: Believe it or not, Bundy has pitched 16 2/3 innings in his life at the Double-A level. I expect there is a good chance he returns to the Eastern League and begins the 2015 season with Bowie. He needs to build on...

Graham on Yaz: "What you see with him is a very complete baseball player"

Graham on Yaz: "What you see with him is a very complete baseball player"
Adam Jones is the only certainty in the Orioles' outfield in 2015. He's going to be in center. Book it. Nick Markakis is in the last guaranteed year of his contract, which includes an option worth $17.5 million. Nelson Cruz will be a free agent after signing a one-year, $8 million deal in spring training. As the Orioles continue to transfer players in their minor league system, I'm asked whether Dariel Alvarez could be an option in left or right. I'm asked whether Mike Yastrzemski could...

Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson

Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson
Miguel Gonzalez made his start tonight at Triple-A Norfolk and threw 88 pitches in six innings. Gonzalez, optioned by the Orioles so he could get some work during the All-Star break, allowed three runs and five hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out one, gave up a home run and threw two wild pitches. As I've written previously, Gonzalez will be recalled and start the June 22 game in Anaheim. The Orioles will have a five-man rotation until Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the disabled list....

Yastrzemski moves up again, plus other notes

Yastrzemski moves up again, plus other notes
The Orioles have promoted outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to Double-A Bowie, his third affiliate since the start of the 2014 season. Yastrzemski, chosen in the 14th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University, was batting .312/.364/.462 with seven doubles, a triple, one home run and 19 RBIs in 23 games at advanced Single-A Frederick. He also was 5-of-5 in stolen base attempts. Yastrzemski began the season at low Single-A Delmarva and batted .306/.365/.554 with 14 doubles,...

Orioles trade Wallace to Blue Jays

Orioles trade Wallace to Blue Jays
The Orioles are spending the All-Star break reshuffling their minor league deck. The club confirmed this afternoon that Triple-A first baseman Brett Wallace has been traded to the Blue Jays for cash considerations. I heard earlier today that it's a "nominal" fee. Also, the Orioles confirmed that left-hander Randy Wolf was released from his Triple-A contract. I wrote yesterday that Wolf opted out of his deal. Wallace, a former first-round draft pick, was batting .265/.329/.389 with 12...