Orioles acquire pitcher David Lebron (O's win 9-8)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles brought over three pitchers this afternoon from minor league camp to pad the bullpen in case of an unexpected mid-inning departure, and they also managed to send someone over to Twin Lakes Park with an in-game trade.

The club announced during the third inning that it acquired right-hander David Lebron from the Rangers in exchange for international signing bonus slots.

(I've already heard how this is Lebron's team now, and other NBA-related jokes, but keep 'em coming.)

The Rangers selected Lebron, 25, in the 26th round of the 2018 amateur draft out of the University of Tampa. He made 10 relief appearances last summer between Single-A Down East and Spokane and allowed three runs and 12 hits in 20 2/3 innings.

Lebron walked six batters, struck out 19 and hit two.

The Homestead, Fla. native was chosen as the 2018 ABCA/Rawlings Division II National Pitcher of the Year. He also was selected as a first-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America (NCBWA) and second-team All-American by the Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA).

A dominant senior season for Lebron, who's armed with a four-pitch mix, included a 10-0 record, 2.24 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings. In two years with the Trojans, he went 17-1 with a 2.45 ERA, 55 walks, 242 strikeouts and a .209 average-against.

Though possessing the highest allotment of international signing bonus slot funds in baseball, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has stated that the club won't spend it just for the sake of spending. Most of the premium talent is spoken for and the Orioles will have to wait for the next reset on July 2.

Cuban shortstop Yolbert Sanchez is an exception and the Orioles scouted him in the Dominican Republic, but he could wait to sign until more teams are equipped to enter the bidding.

Meanwhile, Tanner Scott was charged with four runs in the third inning, the last two scoring with two outs on Dwight Smith Jr.'s single off minor league fireballer Diogenes Almengo.

Jimmy Yacabonis retired the side in order in the fourth and the Orioles scored three runs in the bottom half to lead 6-5.

Austin Hays, playing his first game since undergoing ankle surgery, punched an RBI single into right field and he scored from first base on Carlos Pérez's two-run double to left-center. Pérez was out at third base.

Rio Ruiz led off with a walk and Alcides Escobar singled. DJ Stewart took a called third strike, which he disputed, before Hays' single.

Trey Mancini is 2-for-2 with a run scored and stolen base. Chris Davis has struck out twice.

Austin Wynns is now catching and Yacabonis has returned for his second inning.

Update: The Orioles scored three runs in the seventh on Cael Brockmeyer's single and an error on center fielder Jonathan Davis, Christopher Bostick's ground out and Stevie Wilkerson's single for a 9-5 lead.

Update II: Patrick Cantwell led off the eighth with a home run off Sean Gilmartin.

Update III: Gilmartin walked the bases loaded in the eighth and Matt Wotherspoon hit a batter to force in a run. Roemon Fields reached on an infield hit to reduce the lead to 9-8.

Final update: Branden Kline struck out the side in the ninth. Orioles 9, Blue Jays 8.