The Baltimore Orioles have been in action since April 3, but the season has yet to begin for one of its minor league affiliates.
The Aberdeen IronBirds, the short season Single-A team owned by Cal Ripken, Jr., will start its New York-Penn League season June 20th on the road against the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Andy Etchebarren, a former Orioles catcher and long-time coach in the Baltimore minor league system, is in his second year managing the club. Because of the nature of the minor leagues, Etchebarren does not know what the roster will look like until the amatuer free agent draft June 6-7.
“We don?t know yet, until the draft. We don?t know what players are going to be available when our spot [to pick] comes,” Etchebarren said at the IronBirds annual open house in Aberdeen on Saturday. “We are going to take the best athletes we can take.”
In Etchebarren?s first year as manager in 2005, the IronBirds had their worst season ever, with a dismal 27-48 record. They finished last in the McNamara Division of the NYPL.
The team?s record, however, does not determine its success in developing future major leaguers. “We had five or six players develop very well, and (they) are playing higher up in the organization,” Etchebarren said.
Orioles Director of Minor League Operations Dave Stockstill was on hand at IronFest and agreed that last season?s team had solid talent.
“Aberdeen was outstanding at developing players,” Stockstill said. “Look at Radhames Liz, Garrett Olson, James Hooey, Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder and Brandon Erbe. I don?t think any team in this league had as many future major leaguers.”
A highlight this year at Aberdeen will be the the New York-Penn League All-Star game on August 16, also coinciding with the Cal Ripken World Series.
Aaron Moszer, the general manager for Aberdeen, sees a lot of promise in the event.
Moszer added that season tickets for Aberdeen?s 2006 season have sold out, and the team is close to selling out the remainder of its seats. That would give the club five straight years of sellouts.
THE IRON MAN?S IRONBIRDS
» Three former Aberdeen IronBirds are making solid contributions on the major league level this season. Brandon Fahey, Nick Markakis and Chris Ray are all seeing significant action for the Orioles this year.
» Etchebarren was a member of the Baltimore Orioles first World Series Championship team in 1966. He has coached in all levels of the Orioles farm system. Prior to being the IronBirds manager, he was a roving catcher?s instructor for the Orioles.
