Aberdeen adds three O's top-10 draft picks

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

July 04, 2011, 2:10pm

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The Short-Season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds today added three Orioles top-10 draft picks from the 2011 class. The IronBirds added third-round pick RHP Mike Wright, fifth-round pick LHP Matt Taylor, and ninth-round pick RHP Devin Jones. They join seventh-round LHP Trent Howard, and the IronBirds now have four of the Orioles' top-10 draft picks on their roster. Wright made 16 starts this past spring for Eastern Carolina University. A three-year starter for the Pirates, Wright went 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 2011. Taylor spent this past spring pitching for Middle Georgia College. The southpaw went 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 15 starts (16 total outings). He struck 128 batters in just 81.2 innings of work. Taylor pitched his freshman season for the University of Alabama. Jones made 19 appearances and eight starts for Mississippi State in 2011. He went 2-5 with a 4.37 ERA for the Bulldogs. He's known for having a mid-90's fastball and a strong slider. To make room for the three draft picks, RHP Samuel Taveras, RHP James Brandhorst, LHP Brandon Holloway and OF Cody Young were released. LHP Chris George was also transferred from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, but isn't expected to report to Aberdeen.