Orioles re-sign Drake

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

November 18, 2014, 12:13pm

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The Orioles are keeping pitcher Oliver Drake in the organization, signing him today to a major league contract.

Oliver Drake.png Drake, who has options remaining, became a minor league free agent following the season and drew enough interest that the Orioles inked him to a major league deal. He's added to the 40-man roster for the second time in his professional career.

Drake, chosen in the 43rd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the Naval Academy, went 2-4 with a 3.08 ERA and an Eastern League-leading 31 saves in 50 appearances with Double-A Bowie this season. He walked 17 and struck out 71 in 52 2/3 innings.

Drake's 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings were the best single-season mark in his seven-year minor league career. He also held hitters to a .214/.278/.297 slash line in 210 plate appearances.

The right-hander has gone 32-28 with a 3.53 ERA and 40 saves in 160 minor league games, including 73 starts.

The Orioles now have 34 players on their 40-man roster, which must be set by Thursday.

Drake was first added to the 40-man in November 2011, protecting him in the Rule 5 draft. He was outrighted in 2012 after being limited to three games at Bowie due to surgery on his right shoulder.