Classy exit: After being released, minor league player thanks O's for the opportunity

The Orioles drafted outfielder Trent Mummey in the fourth round out of Auburn University in 2010. He had some solid early success in pro ball, making the New York Penn League All-Star team in 2010 and a year later hitting close to .300 at two levels. But during that 2011 season Mummey suffered a concussion and, four games after he returned from that, he injured his right hamstring. The hamstring issue, especially, lingered for parts of the next two seasons and this week Mummey's time with the O's organization came to an end. Batting just .182 in seven games with Single-A Frederick, Mummey got the news after Monday night's game: he was being released by the Orioles, news that was announced by the team on Tuesday afternoon. While he's disappointed, he remains upbeat and reached out to me last night to thank the organization and the fans for supporting him over the years. "Being with the Orioles for four years and going through some injuries, I just want to thank the Orioles for all the opportunities they gave me," Mummey said. "A lot of people in the organization stuck out their neck for me. It was a blessing to live out my dream and play professionally. "It's unfortunate I had some injuries and was not able to get over them like I wanted to. It was a blessing to play for the Orioles and learn the Oriole way. "Want to thank Dan Duquette, Buck Showalter, Bobby Dickerson, the many managers I had like Gary Kendall, Orlando Gomez and Luis Pujols this year." Mummey thanked many others in the organization by name including Brian Graham and Tripp Norton from the front office and Dave Walker and Pat Wesley from the medical staff for helping to get him back on the field. By the way, that concussion that Mummey suffered, he did so during that 2011 season when he dove head first into the wall at Frederick's Harry Grove Stadium in pursuit of the baseball. He overcame that, but the eventual lingering hamstring injuries led him to surgery and they just proved too much to overcome. "I don't have any regrets about anything I did," Mummey said during a phone interview last night. "I came to the ballpark and worked hard. Lot of people in the organization didn't get to see my full potential. But I thank everyone for the opportunity I had. "I'm blessed to play for the Orioles. They are a great organization. Thank the fans as well. Baltimore fans love their team and they were good to me in the minors. It's a special place to play." Mummey is not yet certain if he has played his last pro game. His agent will look around for other opportunities. "The Orioles allowed me to come back and play," he said. "It's just part of the business. They want the best players on the field and they have younger guys and that is just part of it. "I'll see where this takes me. Right now there are a lot of thoughts going through my head about what I want to do and what path I want to take with my life." You know that saying that you learn the most about people when times are tough? Think I learned something last night about Trent Mummey.