FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2012
ORIOLES ACQUIRE DH JIM THOME FROM PHILADELPHIA
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired DH JIM THOME from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league RHP KYLE SIMON and CA GABRIEL LINO.
Thome, 41, is a five-time All-Star and is currently tied with SAMMY SOSA for seventh place on the all-time home runs list with 609. He is second among active players in home runs behind ALEX RODRIGUEZ (642) and trails only BARRY BONDS (762) and KEN GRIFFEY JR. (630) among left-handed batters.
Thome’s 1,689 career runs batted in are 25th all-time and his career OPS of .959 is 18th in major league history. Thome is one of eight players in major league history to have 12 or more seasons with 30 or more home runs, joining HANK AARON, Rodriguez, Bonds, MIKE SCHMIDT, MANNY RAMIREZ andJIMMIE FOXX.
In 67 career games at Oriole Park, Thome has hit 18 home runs (one every 13.6 at-bats), scored 45 runs and driven in 45 runs. Thome has hit two of the 65 home runs to land on Eutaw Street.
In 30 games for the Phillies in 2012, Thome batted .242 (15-62) with five home runs and 15 RBI.
Simon, 21, was selected by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and was 2-8 with a 3.96 ERA (72.2IP, 32ER) in 14 starts for Class-A Frederick in 2012.
Lino, 19, was signed by the Orioles as a non-drafted free agent on December 14, 2009 and was batting .218 (45-206) with four home runs and 18 RBI in 56 games for Class-A Delmarva.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Thome, the Orioles designated LHP ZACH PHILLIPS for assignment. In his only appearance for the Orioles in 2012, Phillips allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds on an inning.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2012
ORIOLES OPTION RHP TOMMY HUNTER TO TRIPLE-A NORFOLK
The Orioles tonight announced that they have optioned RHP TOMMY HUNTER to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunter is 3-4 with a 6.11 ERA (81.0IP, 55ER) in 15 games (13 starts) for the Orioles this season.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2012
ORIOLES RECALL RHP MIGUEL GONZALEZ
OF XAVIER AVERY optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
The Orioles today announced that they have recalled RHP MIGUEL GONZALEZ from Triple-A Norfolk and have optioned OF XAVIER AVERY to Triple-A Norfolk.
Gonzalez made his major league debut with the Orioles on May 29 at Toronto and appeared in two games, posting a 2.45 ERA (7.1IP, 2ER). In 14 games for Norfolk (six starts), Gonzalez was 3-2 with a 1.61 ERA (44.2IP, 8ER).
In 18 games over two stints with the Orioles this year, Avery batted .222/.300/.361 with five doubles, a triple, a home run, six RBI and five stolen bases. He batted .268/.372/.411 with 16 stolen bases, 18 extra-base hits, 36 walks and 39 runs scored in 59 games for the Tides.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2012
ORIOLES OPTION LHP BRIAN MATUSZ TO TRIPLE-A NORFOLK
The Orioles announced that they have optioned LHP BRIAN MATUSZ to Triple-A Norfolk after today’s game.
Matusz is 5-10 with a 5.42 ERA in 16 starts this season after taking the loss in today’s game (4.0IP, 7H, 5R/4ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HR). He is 0-5 with an 8.44 ERA (21.1IP, 20ER) in his last five starts.
