O's release eight minor leaguers

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

November 18, 2010, 7:58am

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The Orioles have released eight minor leaguers, seven of which played in their Dominican Summer League program last season. There are likely to be more releases coming since the O's will have two fewer minor league teams next season as they cut back to one, not two clubs, in the Dominican and they have also moved out of Bluefield. The players that were released are: *C Moises Beltre, 20 years old, who hit .182-1-10 in 21 games. *C Carlos Paez, 19 years old, who hit .151-0-9 in 44 games. *RHP Javier Hernandez. No stats were listed for him from last summer. *RHP Joan Jimenez, 20 years old, who was 0-2, 3.45. *LHP Jesus Mejias, 20 years old, who was 1-2, 6.62. *RHP Rafael Garcia, 20 years old, who went 4-4, 2.07. *IF Yigui Santana, 18 years old, who hit .146-0-3 in 34 games. *OF Jaynnertt Melenciano, 23 years old, who batted .257-1-14. All the players played in the Dominican League in 2010, except for Melenciano, who played with the Gulf Coast Orioles. More releases are expected and the club may trim 30 or more players over the next several days and weeks.