Aberdeen IronBirds look to take flight despite lack of top prospects
Over the years, the Aberdeen IronBirds of the Class-A, New York-Penn League, an Orioles affiliate owned by Cal Ripken Jr, have had their share of top draft picks. This season's team is a little different.
O's top pick Brian Matusz is not yet signed, and their second and third-round picks are in the Gulf Coast League. Right now, the highest active pick on the Birds' roster from this year's draft is pitcher Richard Zagone, who was drafted in the sixth round.
The IronBirds have gotten off to a respectable 12-13 start though and have won 6 of their last 10 games. Their pitching staff has already authored a pair of one-hitters and, as always, the Birds are a hit at the gate. Now in its 7th season, Aberdeen has sold out every home game, every season, at plush Ripken Stadium.
But promising 4th-round talent, outfielder Kyle Hudson, suffered a broken hand on July 4th and will miss at least a month, maybe longer.
This year's Aberdeen roster features eight players drafted this June and 12 picks from the draft class of 2007.
"I haven't been happy with our play at times. Our pitching has carried us; we've gotten solid pitching and some timely hitting so far," manager Gary Kendall said. "Our offense needs work and our defense is just fair. We don't have some of the prospects Aberdeen has had before. In terms of tools, we've been behind most of the clubs we've played."
The loss of Hudson hurt. He was hitting .216 in his first 11 pro games.
"He has real good speed and could create havoc on the bases. He showed good lateral range in center and is a very good bunter," Kendall said.
This early in the season, with a 30-man roster and everyone getting some playing time, it can be hard for a player to stand out above the rest. But some have caught Kendall's eye.
Jacob Julius (.271-3-13) is an outfielder who was drafted in round 33 in 2007 and played in Bluefield last summer.
"He has the best offensive approach of any player on our club," Kendall said. "He really stays with the pitch and can hit more than just a fastball. He can hit to all fields with some pop and has a real plan at the plate. We've had to hit him third or fourth and they are really pitching him tough."
Caleb Joseph (.239-0-5) has been getting a lot of starts at the catcher position. He was drafted in round seven this June out of Lipscomb University. "I'm happy with his progress, he's shown good bat speed and has a pretty complete game on offense, but he does lack power," Kendall said. "At 165 pounds you have to wonder about his durability at catcher."
So far this season, the IronBirds' pitching has been pretty solid, while the hitting has been inconsistent. The IronBirds look forward to soon adding Kraig Binick, an outfielder who hit .292 at Bluefield last summer. He is just returning from a shoulder injury and is rehabbing now with the Gulf Coast League Orioles.
The IronBirds rotation right now consists of Pat Egan (0-3, 3.71), Richard Zagone (2-0, 4.38), Chris Salberg (3-0, 1.50), Cole McCurry (3-0, 2.05) and Aaron Odom (1-3, 3.38).
The eight players from this year's draft on the Birds roster are P Richard Zagone (round 6), CA Caleb Joseph (round 7), P Nick Haughian (round 9), OF T.J. Baxter (round 24), P Ryan O'Shea (round 27), IF Tom Edwards (round 28) and C Chad Durakis (round 37). The list also includes fourth-round pick Kyle Hudson, who is injured, as mentioned earlier.
Durakis (.222-0-6), who played at St. Paul's school in Baltimore, was a four-year starter at catcher at the University of Maryland with a career average of .289.
Zagone, who pitched five scoreless innings earlier this week, is an interesting prospect who features a high-leg kick and with a fastball that hits 90. O'Shea, who just joined the team, also has a fastball hitting 90, 91.
Kendall, a Baltimore native, after three years managing at Delmarva, is this year's skipper with Scott McGregor serving as pitching coach and Cesar Devarez as field coach.
The IronBirds, who play "short season" ball, began their season on June 17 and the regular season will end September 6.
Minor League Notes
O's pitching prospect Jake Arrieta pitched a scoreless sixth inning Sunday in the Futures Game at New York. Arrieta, pitching for Team USA vs. the World Team, gave up a leadoff single, then got a strikeout-throw out the runner double play, followed by a fly out. He threw just 13 pitches, 8 for strikes. With Frederick this year, the 22-year-old Arrieta is 6-4, 2.75.
Brandon Snyder, the O's first-round pick in 2005, is on a tear right now with Frederick. Over his last seven games, Snyder is batting .469 (15-32) with six doubles, two homers and 7 RBI. Snyder hit .326 in June and is batting .385 in July.
Last year's top pick, catcher Matt Wieters, has made a seamless transition to Double-A Bowie. Wieters is batting .405 during his current 12-game hitting streak. In 17 games with Bowie, Wieters is hitting .350-3-9.
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