Orioles select contract of INF Manny Machado, option RHP Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk
INF Brian Roberts transferred to 60-day DL
The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of INF MANNY MACHADO from Double-A Bowie and optioned RHP STEVE JOHNSON to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Machado on the 40-man roster, INF BRIAN ROBERTS has been transferred to the 60-day DL.
Machado, 20, has batted .266/.352/.438 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 109 games with the Baysox this season, including a .275/.365/.505 line in 91 at-bats since the All-Star break. Machado will be the 31st player in franchise history to debut before his 21st birthday when he sees his first game action (he is 20 years, 34 days old today). The last player to debut for the O’s before turning 21 was HAYDEN PENN (June 7, 2005 at 20.237). The last position player to debut for the club before his 21st birthday was EUGENE KINGSALE (September 3, 1996 at 20.014).
The Orioles’ first round selection (#3 overall) in the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of Brito Miami Private School in Miami, FL, Machado came into 2012 rated as the #2 prospect in the Orioles organization and the #11 prospect overall by Baseball America. He played in the MLB Futures Game in Kansas City in July, going 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Machado was a 2011 South Atlantic League All-Star. He will wear #13.
Johnson earned his first major league victory last night against Seattle, allowing two earned runs and striking out nine over 6.0 innings. He is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (8.0IP, 3ER) in two games (one start) with the Orioles this season.