Minor moves: Mancini, Yastrzemski, Yacabonis promoted to Frederick

With the second half starting tonight in the Single-A Carolina League and Single-A South Atlantic League, the Orioles are using this time to move three players up from Delmarva to Frederick.

First baseman Trey Mancini, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis are moving up and will join the Keys for tonight's game at Carolina.

Mancini, an eighth-round pick last year out of Notre Dame, is batting .317 for the Shorebirds with 13 doubles, three triples, three homers and 42 RBIs. He hit .328 last year for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, was the IronBirds' MVP and was named Topps Player of the Year in the New York-Penn League.

Yastrzemski, selected in round 14 last year out of Vanderbilt, has hit .306 for Delmarva with 14 doubles, 10 triples, 10 homers and 44 RBIs. The grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski has a .919 OPS and also has recorded 12 outfield assists.

Yacabonis, drafted in round 13 last June out of St. Joseph's University, did not give up a run in his first 19 bullpen appearances this year for Delmarva. In 21 games, he is 1-1 with a 1.07 ERA. Over 25 1/3 innings, he's allowed just nine hits and three runs with 15 walks and 31 strikeouts.

Orioles director of player development Brian Graham said the players did what they needed to do to move to another level.

"With both Yastrzemski and Mancini, they both performed very well in the first half," Graham said. "They did what they needed to do at that level to earn the right to play at the next level.

"Yastrzemski got on base, showed extra-base power, scored runs and played real good defense. Mancini played good defense and has really swung the bat well the last month and a half. The next level will be challenging for these guys."

Yacabonis leaves Delmarva as the league leader with 14 saves. He could get save chances in Frederick, but getting multiple-inning outings will be important for him moving forward. Yacabonis throws a fastball in the low 90s along with a slider and split-finger fastball that has been an out pitch for him.

"He should be a in a similar role, but we need to stretch Yacabonis out, he needs to pitch two innings, two-plus innings. Get to the 50-pitch mark at times. His role in the big leagues is going to be a reliever and relievers need to throw more than one inning," Graham said.

Two players will move from Frederick to Delmarva and they are outfielder Lucas Herbst and Creede Simpson, who will take over at first base there as Mancini moves up. Herbst is batting .271 in 35 games for Frederick and Simpson is batting .214 in 58 games.

Meanwhile, the Orioles' Gulf Coast League team will open its season on Friday. The Orioles' top three draft picks have reported to that team, but may not be active on opening day. Lefty Brian Gonzalez (round 3), right-hander Pat Connaughton (round 4) and right-hander David Hess (round 5) are going through a throwing progression to reach the point where they will be pitching in games. That point should come pretty soon.

Since I seem to get asked mutliple times a day on Twitter about Dylan Bundy, I will repeat here that nothing has changed. Bundy is still scheduled to pitch in Aberdeen on Saturday night for the IronBirds. He is expected to make a third start there on June 27 and then the O's will re-evaluate what the next move will be.