The Orioles announced they’ve selected right-hander Manny Barreda to the big league roster. Baltimore also confirmed the previously-reported recall of pitching prospect Mike Baumann, who is in line to make his major league debut. In corresponding moves, reliever Zack Burdi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and righty Jorge López was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right ankle sprain. To create space on the 40-man roster for Barreda, Baltimore transferred righty Hunter Harvey from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Barreda’s promotion is the culmination of a winding journey up the minor league ranks. He began his professional career as a 12th-round selection of the Yankees way back in 2007. Barreda spent the next seven years in the New York system, topping out at Double-A before being released. From 2015-17, Barrera sandwiched a couple of stints in the Brewers and Braves organizations between work with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League. He spent the entirety of the 2018-19 seasons with Tijuana.
The fourteen-year pro made it back to affiliated ball this March when he landed a minor league deal with the Orioles. He’s spent almost the entire season with Norfolk, working 34 1/3 innings (almost exclusively in relief) of 4.19 ERA ball. Barreda has managed solid strikeout and walk numbers at the minors’ top level to earn his first big league call just more than a month away from his 33rd birthday.
López left his appearance yesterday afternoon against the Royals after sustaining the injury. Manager Brandon Hyde called it significant and said it could end López’s season (via Rich Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball). If that proves to be the case, the 28-year-old will end the year with a 6.07 ERA/4.64 SIERA over 121 2/3 innings.
Harvey’s IL transfer is a formality. The 26-year-old has been on the IL since July 2 due to a right lat strain. With more than sixty days already logged, moving him to the longer term IL doesn’t have any effect on his eligibility to return. Harvey is on a rehab assignment with Norfolk.
