Though the Orioles have fewer than three weeks to sign Matt Wieters, their first-round draft pick, the team?s management is confident he has played his final collegiate game.
But if the Orioles fail to sign the 6-foot-5, 230-pound catcher by Aug. 15, Wieters will return to Georgia Tech for his senior season and will be eligible for Major League Baseball?s draft in 2008. The Orioles picked Wieters, who is represented by agent Scott Boras, with the fifth selection overall.
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“I think that he’s certainly a guy that our scouting staff feels fits right in the middle of the lineup,” Orioles vice president of baseball operations Jim Duquette said. “For the position, he’s a guy that has terrific upside, is a switch hitter and he’s a solid catcher as well.”
NORFOLK TIDES (49-52)
After he was demoted from Baltimore, Garrett Olson picked up where he left off in Triple-A. The left-hander scattered four hits over six shutout innings Saturday as the Tides defeated Columbus, 5-2. Olson, who is 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his past five minor league starts, struck out eight and walked one.
BOWIE BAYSOX (49-52)
Right-hander Radhames Liz leads the club with 115 strikeouts ? at least 30 more than any teammate. Liz has walked 56, thrown 8 wild pitches and hit 8 batters, but is allowing opponents to hit just .206.
FREDERICK KEYS (10-19)*
Brandon Erbe, the Orioles? top pitching prospect, is 6-5 with a 6.25 ERA in 19 starts. He has struck out 83 and walked 52 in 90 2/3 innings.
DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS (14-16)*
Brandon Snyder, the Orioles? first-round draft pick in 2005, is batting .288 with 8 home runs and 42 RBIs in 90 games.
BLUEFIELD ORIOLES (17-16)
Kraig Binick leads the team in hits (44), home runs (5), stolen bases (7) and batting average (.379). The outfielder was the Orioles 27th-round pick in the June draft.
* ? Second-half record
