Outfielder Andreoli, 28, claimed from Mariners
Showalter praises Hall of Famer Thome
CLEVELAND – The Orioles added a depth piece off waivers Saturday by claiming outfielder
from the Seattle Mariners, the team announced.
Andreoli, 28, made his major league debut May 23, and appeared in three games for the Mariners after signing with them as a minor league free agent in January.
He was designated for assignment Friday, and after claiming him, the Orioles assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Andreoli out of UConn in the 17th round of the 2011 draft, and he’s spent most of the past four seasons at Triple-A. A career .270/.373/ .388 hitter in the minors, Andreoli is 1-for-5 in the majors.
Additionally, Andreoli hit three home runs as a regular on Italy’s entrant in last year’s World Baseball Classic.
He plays all three outfield positions and has stolen 247 bases on 309 tries (80 percent) in his minor league career. Andreoli will join an outfield mix at Triple-A Norfolk that includes
and With this acquisition, the Orioles’ 40-man roster is now full. Orioles Showalter praises Thome: manager had nothing but compliments for freshly minted Hall of Famer
who was honored this weekend at Progressive Field and had his number retired Saturday.
Thome’s standout career ended with the Orioles during their playoff run in 2012, and Showalter said his presence made the upand-coming team a bit more formidable.
“He was a big acquisition for us,” Showalter said. “He helps verify a lot of things. I can say it, a coach can say it, but when Jim Thome says the same thing — he makes managing easy.
“A lot of things they don’t get about Jimmy, he’s one of the smartest, most common-sense [people] of anybody you’ll ever be around. Just saw things through a pure lens. It was simple. It’s funny. When people talk about Thome, they don’t talk much about the player and what a great player he was. He made himself into a third baseman. When they asked him to go to first base, he goes, ‘Sure, what have you been waiting for? Does it help the team win? Let’s go.’ ‘Hey, we want you to DH.’ ‘Sure, if it helps the team win, let’s go.’ ”
Thome hit .257 with the Orioles, with the last three of his 612 career home runs coming with Baltimore. Thome spent 13 of his 22 major league seasons with the Cleveland Indians. Hays hitting his stride: Outfielder went 4-for-4 with a home run and two doubles Friday to bring his average to .364 in his first eight games since he returned from an ankle injury with Double-A Bowie, and Showalter got a good report on Hays from farm director
on Saturday. “He made a point of bringing up Austin,” Showalter said. “As tough a year as he had physically, and a lot of things that he thought, we thought might be a little different this year, he’s really got it going right now. It’d be great to see him finish strong like he is and see what next year could present.”
Showalter said it would be up to Graham and executive vice president to determine if another September call-up would be in Hays’ best interest, or whether a strong end to the season would make him worthy of one. Mullins back in familiar spot: Rookie center fielder
who made his first major league start at leadoff Friday, said he’s flattered by the comparisons to former Indians star
who he met before Friday’s game, and said he hopes he can be that prototypical leadoff hitter with a bit of power mixed in.
Despite not getting a hit Friday, Mullins said he felt good back in a familiar lineup spot. He spent almost his entire minor league career as a leadoff hitter. Around the horn: Showalter said right-hander is throwing on the side after a long period off with a shoulder injury. “Everything is fine,” Showalter said. … Right-hander
(shoulder) will begin his rehabilitation assignment Monday in the Gulf Coast League.