After an injury delayed his start, Baltimore Orioles prospect Billy Rowell has finally settled in at Single-A Delmarva ? and he?s likely to stay there for most of the summer.
“I wouldn?t see any change with the late start,” Orioles director of minor league operations David Stockstill said. “We just want to make sure we get him as many at-bats and as much time at third base as possible.”
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So far, Rowell, 18, has logged just 19 at-bats after coming back from an oblique injury in spring training. Now, he?s fully healthy and focusing on improving his defense at third base.
“He?s making progress, he?s worked hard on it and, yes, it is a position change,” Stockstill said of Rowell, who played shortstop at Bishop Eustace (N.J.) Prep. “Over the next three years, we?ll see how he develops physically” and assess is ability at third base.
Rowell, taken with the ninth overall pick in the 2006 draft, could be ready for Baltimore by the time Melvin Mora?s contract expires at the end of the 2009 season. He is batting .368 with one home run and five RBI through five games.
NORFOLK TIDES
Journeyman outfielder Tike Redman was named the International League batter of the week (May 14-20) after hitting .481 with three triples and 12 runs scored. He signed with the Orioles on May 15.
BOWIE BAYSOX
Closer Jim Hoey is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 18 games, spanning 17.2 innings. He has scattered 11 hits and allowed an average of 0.85 baserunners per inning while recording 13 saves.
FREDERICK KEYS
First baseman Ryan Finan is leading the Keys with five homeruns and 26 RBI through 45 games. He is batting .276 with a .442 slugging percentage. Finan, 25, led Delmarva in home runs (17), runs (80) and RBI (78) in 2006.
DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS
Despite spending time on the disabled list, outfielder Brandon Tripp has not cooled down entirely after a smoldering start to his first full professional season. Tripp, 22, is leading all Delmarva players with at least 100 at-bats with a .356 batting average. He also ranks second on the team in homers (6) and RBI (29) behind Chris Vinyard (9 HRs, 43 RBI).
