Orioles sign Rundles from independent league

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 07, 2012, 12:42pm

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BOSTON - The Triple-A Norfolk roster is getting another pitcher. The independent Lancaster Barnstormers announced on their website that the Orioles have purchased the contract of left-hander Rich Rundles from the Atlantic League team. Rundles will join Norfolk for its trip to Buffalo. Rundles, 31, was 2-1 with a 3.02 ERA in eight starts for the Barnstormers. He allowed 40 hits, walked 11 and struck out 40 in 47 2/3 innings. He turned in four consecutive quality starts from May 3-19. The Red Sox chose Rundles in the third round of the 1999 First Year Player draft while Dan Duquette was general manager. He appeared in eight games with the Indians in 2008 and one in 2009, allowing one run and six hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out seven. The Red Sox had traded Rundles and pitcher Tomo Ohka to the Indians on July 31, 2001 for reliever Ugueth Urbina. Rundles spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate in Memphis. "We figured that Rich would go soon," Lancaster manager and former Red Sox third baseman Butch Hobson said on the Barnstormers' website. "He asked to start here, thinking it was his best way back to a major league organization. We'll certainly miss him in the rotation."