Hearing from Dan Duquette and the minor league award winners

First baseman Christian Walker and right-handed pitcher Tyler Wilson were named the Orioles minor league Player and Pitcher of the Year today. Walker is the Brooks Robinson Award winner and Wilson is the Jim Palmer Award winner. Those players appeared at a press conference before tonight's game, along with Elrod Hendricks Community Service Award winner Mark Blackmar, Ryan Minor and Delmarva coaches who won the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, and Jim Richardson who won the Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award. Also Bowie Baysox groundskeeper Matt Parrott was honored for winning the 2014 Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year Award. Orioles vice president Dan Duquette talked about the award winners. "I want to congratulate the award winners and their families. You guys had great years and we're really proud of the work you did on behalf of the Orioles. To be recognized here, you have to have a great year," Duquette said. Wilson made 16 starts at Double-A Bowie this year before his promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he made his last 12 starts. Between the teams, he went 14-8 with a 3.67 ERA. Over 166 2/3 innings, the right-hander gave up 162 hits with 43 walks and 157 strikeouts. He finished tied for third in all of the minors with his 14 victories. Wilson, 24, was drafted in the 10th round out of the University of Virginia in 2011. In 88 career starts over four seasons on the O's farm, he is 32-24 with an ERA of 3.73. The 23-year-old Walker played 95 games at Double-A Bowie and 44 for Triple-A Norfolk this season. He batted .288 with 25 doubles, two triples, 26 homers and 96 RBIs. Walker led all O's minor leaguers in homers and RBIs. The fourth-round pick in 2012 out of the University of South Carolina had a .357 OBP and a .489 slugging percentage for an OPS of .846. His homer total took a big leap from 11 last season to 26 this season. He finished tied for 15th in the minors in RBIs and tied for 22nd in home runs. "It's a big honor," Walker said. "There are a lot of great players and hard workers throughout the organization, so this is an exciting and I'm honored." Wilson spoke of his award. "It is exciting to be here and walk out on the field, take it in and realize what's ahead," he said. "These past couple of years have been a great experience. Been a learning process and development process. Flattered to receive this award." Both players talked about advancing to the Triple-A level this season. "It is easy to stay motivated and work hard when good things are happening. You just try to keep grinding and getting better," Walker said. "Being in Triple-A was great," Wilson added. "Every step along the way, you look to work and improve and take something away from the players and coaches that are there. At Triple-A, we played with guys that were in the World Series last year and won the World Series, guys that have had 10 years in the majors. That type of knowledge is invaluable." The Orioles also honored Single-A Delmarva catcher Chance Sisco, who batted .340 and won the South Atlantic League batting title. "Those last few days were exciting," Sisco said. "It was a close race all the way to the end of the season. It is an honor to win the batting title for my first full season." The Orioles also announced this afternoon that they have extended the working agreements with five minor league affiliates. The club signed four-year agreements through the 2018 season with Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick, and two-year agreements through the 2016 season with Single-A Delmarva and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. "The minor league system is the lifeblood of the major league team," Duquette said. "It is a vital cog in having a good team and this is a very robust farm system that we are very proud to present to our fans. Glad to be going back to all these communities that have welcomed us over the years."