When Joe Jordan worked as the national crosschecker in the Florida Marlins' scouting department, he tried to persuade high school outfielder Brandon Tripp to sign a professional contract. He offered plenty of good reasons - six figures' worth of them - but Tripp was determined to play at Cal State Fullerton.
In one of baseball's interesting twists, Jordan was hired as the Orioles' director of scouting in November 2004. And he drafted Tripp again two years later.
Jordan is reminded of these events because Tripp won't let him forget. And not with words.
Coming off an uninspiring collegiate career and professional debut, Tripp is tearing up the South Atlantic League with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He led the league with a .425 average and 24 RBIs heading into yesterday's games. He also had 10 doubles, five homers and 21 runs.
Keep in mind that Tripp batted .221 with two homers and 15 RBIs at short-season Aberdeen in 2006, after the Orioles selected him in the 12th round. He also had trouble cracking Fullerton's lineup, receiving only 19 at-bats in 2004 before batting .343 in 54 games the next year.
"I think he forgot, in his three years at Fullerton, what kind of potential he had," Jordan said. "He's got a lot of ability. I feel like, with a lot of players, sometimes they just need to play every day. They need to know that if they 0-for-4, they're going to be in the lineup the next day. And that's what professional baseball offers sometimes."
Mark Ralston, the Orioles' California-based scout, kept close tabs on Tripp at Fullerton. When the 12th round of the amateur draft rolled around, the Orioles decided to take a chance.
"We figured that there was value for that pick, if we could sign him," Jordan said.
Tripp was named the league's Player of the Week from April 16-22 after batting .545 with three doubles, two homers, six RBIs and seven runs.
Denny Walling, the Orioles' roving minor league hitting instructor, made a small adjustment with Tripp in spring training. It was fairly simple, involving Tripp's lower torso and how his pivot was affecting his swing. In baseball parlance, he didn't have his legs underneath him.
"Somebody needed to see it, and they did, and it got him into a little bit better position to hit. And Brandon's just taking off," Jordan said. "So far, so good. And I'm thrilled for him."
Triple-A Norfolk
