Mayo's injury and Suarez's release headlined Orioles' MiLB transactions
*Cover Photo Credit: Kate Kirsch
The Orioles have made some key roster moves in the Minor League department lately, one involving an unfortunate injury that could derail a top prospect's development towards a big league promotion. Here is what is happening in the farm system.
Injury
MLB's No. 21 prospect (Orioles No. 3) Coby Mayo has been placed on the 7-day IL after being diagnosed with fractured ribs. He suffered the injury while attempting to make a catch in foul territory at third base. He appeared to fall into the dugout and, out of sight of the camera, land awkwardly enough to the point of injury. He is expected to miss several weeks.
It is an annoying and unfortunate road block for the top prospect infielder. The 22-year-old Floridian had been playing on the brink of an MLB promotion. He had been hitting the life out of the ball in 42 games for Norfolk, mashing 13 home runs while slugging .605 and collecting 104 total bases. Mayo will now be down for the next several weeks as he now focuses on healing and recovery. Eventually, he will most likely see a rehab assignment with either or both High-A Aberdeen and/or Double-A Bowie.
In other injury news in Birdland, the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds have placed the following players on the 7-day IL. No cause of injury was given for any of the players listed.
RHP Nestor German
OF Braylin Tavera
RHP Ty Weatherly
Wishing a safe and speedy recovery to all.
Released
On Wednesday, the Tides announced that they had released LHP Andrew Suarez (NOT ALBERT). The 31-year-old southpaw was on a Minor League contract with the Orioles.
Suarez, a former second round pick of the Giants, is a veteran Major Leaguer of 4 seasons with 230.1 innings under his belt. After posting a 7.16 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Cardinals last season, he latched onto the Orioles and an assignment to the Tides in hopes that he could fix his craft and get on the right track towards a promotion to the Orioles' bullpen, perhaps even the starting rotation.
However things did not go as planned for Suarez in Birdland. He allowed 11 earned runs in 13.2 innings for Norfolk (5.93 ERA) while posting an elavated 1.76 WHIP. Only 67% of his pitches were for strikes and he had a 3.29 walk rate. His 7.9 K/9 was underwhelming, and hitters put up a .921 OPS against him.
Sometimes, things just do not work out the way people want them to. For Suarez, it just was not meant to be for him and the Orioles. However, given the experience he has in the majors and given how he has shown signs of promise in past big league opportunities, teams should stay in contact with him and it would not be surprising if he got a Minor League deal from another big league club fairly quickly.
Best wishes, Andrew. We hope it all works out for you.
Rehab Assignment
The Baysox have sent RHP Dan Hammer to the Ironbirds to begin a rehab assignment.
The righty is currently on the IL with an undisclosed injury. It is his second stint on the IL so far this season. When healthy, the hard-throwing reliever has struck out 6 batters in 3 innings of work this season for Bowie. He has only allowed one run. Hammer will look to complete his rehab assignment and return quickly to assist the strong and talented Bowie bullpen.
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