Orioles Add Five to 40-Man, Sign Catcher Reyes
The Orioles today announced that they have added RHP BRAD BERGESEN, RHP DAVID HERNANDEZ, RHP CHORYE SPOONE, LHP WILFREDO PEREZ and OF NOLAN REIMOLD to their 40-man Major League roster.
The Orioles have also signed CA JOSE REYES to a minor league contract for 2009 with an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Bergesen, 23, was awarded the Jim Palmer Award as the Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 16-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 28 games (26 starts) between Class-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. The Orioles' fourth round pick in 2004, Bergesen held right-handed batters to a .205 average over 165.1 innings in 2008.
Hernandez, 23, led the Double-A Eastern League in strikeouts (166) and his 2.68 ERA was the third-best in the EL. The Orioles' 16th round selection in 2005, Hernandez was named to the Eastern League mid-season All-Star Team and finished 2008 with a 10-4 record in 27 starts.
Spoone, 23, was the Orioles' eighth round selection in 2005 and went 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA in nine starts for Double-A Bowie in 2008. Spoone's 2008 season was limited by right shoulder discomfort which resulted in minor season ending surgery.
Perez, 24, was 2-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 42 games in relief between Class-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. The Dominican southpaw, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent after the 2003 season, struck out 92 batters in 79.2 innings in 2008.
Reimold, 25, was named to the Eastern League All-Star Team after finishing second in the league in home runs (25), extra-base hits (57) and runs (87). The Orioles' second round selection in 2005, Reimold played in 139 of Bowie's 142 games and is currently playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
Reyes, 24, appeared in four games for the Chicago Cubs in 2006, batting .200 (1-5) with two RBI. Reyes missed the 2008 season after having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
