Minor league news and notes

The Orioles are finalizing plans for their 2011 instructional league camp and workouts. Last year, they held a scaled-down version at Camden Yards while their Sarasota complex was being renovated. This year, the Orioles will hold instructional league workouts in Sarasota and they figure to host around 25 players from mid September to around October 5th or a few days later. The list of players that will take part has not been announced, but it figures to be a mix of some first-year players and recent draft picks, some key prospects and maybe some players that need more work after missing time this season due to injury. Meanwhile, outfielder Ronnie Welty has been activated by the Double-A Bowie Baysox off the disabled list. He was out since August 9. On the year, in 107 Baysox games, Welty is batting .225 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs. Right-handed pitcher Ryan Berry, coming back from shoulder tendinitis, has put together some nice recent outings at Aberdeen. Over his last four games, Berry has pitched eight innings allowing six hits and just one run. It's possible the Orioles will move him to another affiliate soon. For now, he is listed as Aberdeen's starting pitcher on Monday. It appears that pitchers Jaime Esquivel and Eduardo Rodriguez, who have put up solid numbers in the Gulf Coast League, will remain with the GCL team through the playoffs. But one or both could make a start or two for Aberdeen after the GCL playoffs, which could end anywhere between August 28 and 31 for the GCL O's. Esquivel, a 19-year-old, right-hander, is 5-1 with an ERA of 0.81 allowing just 24 hits in 44 1/3 in the GCL. Rodriguez, an 18-year-old lefty from Venezuela, is 1-1 with a 1.94 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 41 2/3. The Orioles signed infielder Ryan Zrenda out of Brown University after the draft to provide some depth for Aberdeen. Zrenda played third base for four years at Brown and this season was an all-Ivy League honorable mention pick.