O's finalize deal with teen OF from Curacao

October 30th, 2018
Crouse, Jake

BALITMORE -- The Orioles have agreed to terms with international prospect J'Rudjeanon Isenia, a 16-year-old outfielder out of Curacao.
Isenia is the latest signing for a Baltimore club that is making an effort to ramp up what was a near-nonexistent international effort prior to this year. The $125,000 contract was agreed upon earlier this year, but made official on Tuesday afternoon.
"Isenia is a right-handed-hitting outfielder with above-average tools and a good swing," said director of player development and interim GM Brian Graham. "He is a very coachable young player who we look forward to developing."

The Orioles announced four international signings Thursday: Venezuelan outfielder Angel Gomez, Cuban outfielder Kevin Infante, Dominican right-hander Kelvin LaRoche and Venezuelan shortstop Gilbert Machado. The quartet came on the heels of Baltimore missing out on the top three in this international signing period: Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and Sandy Gaston.
Given that, the O's, who started the month with an eye-popping $6.5 million in international bonus pool money, are expected to fill out their farm system with a volume of smaller signings. The bonus pool money, the most in the Majors, may be used until June and is a non-transferrable allotment.
The last player the Orioles scouted and developed that reached the Major League level from Curacao was , who was traded to the Brewers midseason.
Vote for McKenna
Outfielder Ryan McKenna, the club's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is a finalist for the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, and Orioles fans can help get him there by voting.

McKenna, who played for Double-A Bowie during the regular season, is up against the Yankees' and the Rangers' Julio Pablo Martinez for the final spot on the West Roster with voting until 3 p.m. ET Wednesday.
McKenna ranks second in the AFL with a 1.100 OPS for the Glendale Desert Dogs and is vying to be the lone Orioles representative. Through 11 games, he's hitting .366 with a .490 on-base percentage and a .610 slugging percentage.
Kline protected
The Orioles selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Branden Kline from Double-A Bowie. The move puts Kline on the 40-man roster and prevents him from electing to become a Minor League free agent this winter.
Kline, a native of Frederick, Md., was selected by the Orioles in the second round of the 2012 Draft. Plagued by arm troubles, the righty is the O's 23rd-best prospect. Finally healthy to begin '18, Kline ended a 59-month absence on the mound when he logged a scoreless performance out of Class A Advanced Frederick's bullpen on Minor League Opening Day. Kline, who turned 27 last month, went 5-4 with a 1.64 ERA in 44 games across two levels, pitching 65 2/3 innings and allowing 52 hits and 18 walks against 71 strikeouts.