Orioles fans may not have to wait long to see the team’s top prospects playing in Camden Yards.
The Orioles’ fourth-overall pick in June’s first-year draft, left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz, agreed to a four-year major league contract with the team on Friday.
The deal, which places Matusz immediately on the team’s 40-man roster, guarantees him a minimum of $3.47 million and a $3.2 million signing bonus.
The bonus ties Adam Loewen’s 2002 deal for the second-largest awarded in team history. Catcher Matt Wieters received a team-record $6 million last summer. The reason it took so long to sign Matusz was attributed to his desire to have a major league contract and fast-track his career to Camden Yards. The last time the Orioles awarded a pro contract to a draft pick also was to Loewen, a left-handed pitcher who blew out his elbow for a second time this season and is trying to revive his career as an outfielder.
Matusz went 12-2 last year at the University of San Diego, posting 141 strikeouts and a 1.71 earned-run average. He is expected train with the organization’s coaches in Aberdeen, but will not play with the Single-A IronBirds. After the season, he’ll play in the Arizona Fall League or Hawaiian Winter League.
It’s the second consecutive year the Orioles waited until the final day to sign their draft pick to prevent forfeiting the player’s rights in exchange for a comparable compensatory pick in next year’s draft.
“I think we would’ve preferred it, in our world, a little sooner than it happened,” Andy MacPhail, the team’s president of baseball operations told reporters. “But all’s well that ends well.”
Last year’s fifth-overall pick, catcher Matt Wieters, was an all-star at Single-A Frederick before being promoted to Double-A Bowie. In 48 games with the Baysox, Wieters is batting .358 with nine home runs and 43 RBI.
“It seems all but inevitable that Wieters will be the starting catcher in Baltimore next season,” Baseball America’s weekly Prospect Hot Sheet noted. “Look out Ramon Hernandez. He’s knocking your door with authority.”
Baseball America’s report also tabbed Bowie pitchers David Hernandez and Chris Tillman as two intriguing prospects to watch. Hernandez is 8-4 with a 2.59 earned-run average to go with a minor league-best 150 strikeouts against 64 walks in 125 innings. Opponents are batting a meager .215 against the 23-year-old.
Tillman, a 20-year old right-hander who arrived from Seattle in the trade for ace pitcher Erik Bedard, has shown continual progress this season. His 3.49 earned-run average is third in the Eastern League and he has struck out 131 batters against 57 walks. Tillman’s ability to control his command will be his key to reaching the majors, as he has struck out 28 against three walks in 18 innings this month.
“He’s really improved, especially his curveball,” an Eastern League manager told Baseball America. “He’s 93-94 [mile per hour] with his fastball and he’ll pitch at 92, and he’s deceptive. Guys started looking curve against him, and he was smart and really attacked with the fastball.”
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