From Bluefield to Baltimore, Ryan Adams gets set for his major league debut

As the Orioles welcome Nolan Reimold and Ryan Adams to the roster today, it has to be exciting for Reimold to return to the major leagues and for Adams to make it to the show for the first time. Adams' long road through the Orioles' minors began when they drafted him out of a Louisiana high school in the second round in 2006. Since then, he has played for six O's farm clubs over six seasons, making it from Rookie League Bluefield to Triple-A Norfolk this year and now Baltimore. The 24-year-old, right-handed batter hit .287 over 419 minor league games through 2010. Last season, he really put up solid numbers at Double-A Bowie, batting .298 with 43 doubles, 15 homers and 68 RBIs and he was a postseason Eastern League All-Star. After the season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the Orioles' eighth-best prospect. Last September, he talked with me about his solid season with the Baysox. He began this year going to Triple-A for the first time, but was batting just .120 after his first eight Tides games. Since then, he is batting a robust .339. Overall, in 39 Norfolk games, Adams is batting .303 with two homers, eight RBIs and an .807 OPS. Adams hit a remarkable .500, at 18-for-36, against International League left-handed pitchers and .241 against right-handers. Last year, he also hit lefties well with Bowie, batting .350 against the southpaws. Adams has heard plenty of criticism in recent years about his defense at second base, but has insisted in several interviews with me that he is better than what he is given credit for. He played some third base late last season for Bowie, but only at second this year and has four errors for Norfolk. If the Orioles took the step to call up Adams, you have to think they plan to give him some starts at second base during the time that Brian Roberts is out. For Adams. it must feel good today to know that, after starting his career as an 19-year-old in rookie ball, over 1,600 at bats later, he has made it all the way to the major leagues.