The Baltimore Orioles continued their three-game set against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards on Thursday evening with the visitors already holding a 2-0 series lead after victories of 3-1 and 5-3.
Amid the on-field action, the organization quietly moved on from seven players assigned to its Dominican Summer League affiliates.
All seven were let go from the club’s two DSL clubs, Black and Orange. Six of the departures were right-handed pitchers, with one outfielder also released.
Samuel Teran, Joismer Sandoval, Henry Tejada, Edgar Benitez and Argenis Valdez had been with DSL Orioles Black, while Carlos Virla and David De Los Santos were with DSL Orioles Orange.
Teran finished his time in the system with a 3-2 record, an 8.79 ERA and a 2.34 WHIP across 28 2/3 innings, striking out 22.
Sandoval posted a 4-3 mark with a 6.84 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 25 innings at the rookie level. Tejada had been one of the more effective arms, going 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 41 punchouts in 43 2/3 innings.
Virla compiled a 2-2 record, 3.98 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 35 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Benitez went 1-2 with a 6.56 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings.
De Los Santos worked the most innings of the group, finishing 3-3 with a 4.36 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings. Valdez, the lone position player released, hit .234/.331/.345 with three home runs, 21 doubles, four triples, 20 stolen bases and 45 RBI.
The moves come as the Orioles sit at 61-66 and occupy last place in the American League East, 15 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
They are also 1 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final wild-card berth. Baltimore had taken three of four from the Rays immediately before this series and is 5-5 over its last 10 games.
Once the Yankees series concludes, the Orioles return home to begin another three-game set against Tampa Bay on Friday.
The roster adjustments at the lowest levels of the system reflect the organization’s ongoing evaluation of its international and developmental talent as the major-league club tries to stay relevant in a crowded wild-card picture.
