Minor league notes on Schrader, Townsend, Gleason and more

It appears that Orioles minor league pitcher Clayton Schrader, who was having a real strong season, could miss the rest of this year. Schrader has been on the Single-A Frederick disabled list since Aug. 2, due to elbow discomfort. He has a flexor mass strain. He has not resumed throwing to this point and there may not be enough time for him to get back in games before the 2011 season ends. The right-hander, the Orioles' 10th-round pick last year, is 1-1 with three saves and ERA of 1.13 for Frederick. In 24 innings with the Keys, he has allowed just eight hits with 19 walks, 35 strikeouts and a batting average against of just .101. Between Single-A Delmarva and Frederick this year he has allowed just 19 hits over 46 innings with 32 walks and a whopping 73 strikeouts. In other minor league news, Frederick first baseman Tyler Townsend, out since July 13 with a recurring hamstring injury, is expected to play in Gulf Coast League games this Wednesday through Saturday as he tries to make his way back to the Keys. In 64 games with Frederick, Townsend was batting .318 with 23 doubles, 13 homers, 50 RBIs and a .943 OPS. The Orioles are moving Frederick closer Sean Gleason to Triple-A Norfolk. Gleason is 1-3 and has saved 32 of 36 for Frederick and pitched to an ERA of 4.53. He has fanned 58 in 47 2/3 with his 90 to 94 mph fastball. Right-handed batters have hit just .172 against him. With Jose Diaz settled in as closer in Double-A Bowie, the O's are moving Gleason to Norfolk to see what he can do. He will turn 26 in six days, so they want to see how he fares at a higher level. First baseman Aaron Baker, who joined Bowie for their doubleheader yesterday, for now is staying with the Baysox and will be with the club when they start a road trip Tuesday at Richmond. Right-handed pitcher Parker Bridwell, who made two starts in June for Delmarva, will return to the Shorebirds for his next start, which will likely be this weekend. Bridwell, who turned 20 earlier this month, went 2-5 with an ERA of 4.53 in 12 games, 11 starts for short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Over 53 2/3 innings, the 2010 ninth-round pick fanned 57. Lefty pitcher Ashur Tolliver is moving from Delmarva to Frederick. Tolliver went 1-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 24 outings with the Shorebirds and did not allow an earned run over his final 18 innings, covering nine games.