FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -The Orioles' top three pitching prospects were among 12 players sent to minor league camp yesterday in the first cuts of spring.
Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta, potentially the strongest trio of pitchers the organization has had in decades, impressed during their short story here.
"I've been watching pitchers for a long time," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, "and I would say those three guys are as good as I have seen at any one time coming up through somebody's system."
Said team president Andy MacPhail: "I was impressed with their work ethic and their professionalism. For young kids, they have more than God-given stuff. They really have the right approach."
Although minor league assignments are not yet official, Matusz, the club's top draft pick in 2008, is expected to start at Single-A Frederick, while Troy Patton and Arrieta are targeted for Double-A Bowie.
Tillman, who turns 21 in April, will most likely begin at Triple-A Norfolk, where he would again be among the youngest players. The organization would like to reunite him with Tides pitching coach Mike Griffin, who was at Double-A Bowie last year when Tillman was 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA.
That plan could change, however, depending on the makeup of the Tides' staff after the Orioles make final cuts in April.
Also sent to minor league camp in Sarasota yesterday were four pitchers on the 40-man roster - Patton, David Hernandez, Jim Hoey and Chorye Spoone (Northeast, CCBC-Catonsville) - and five nonroster invitees: catchers Adam Donachie and Jose Reyes, pitchers Fredy Deza and Ryan Keefer, and infielder Craig Brazell.
The group will report tomorrow, and minor league games start Tuesday. The Orioles are down to 55 players in camp.
Tillman, who allowed one run in four innings this spring, will work on his fastball command and improving his changeup in the minors. He said this camp was much different from his first in 2008.
"Last year I was all nervous and I wanted to prove everything to everybody," Tillman said. "This year ... it was a lot more relaxed."
Arrieta, 23, threw one scoreless inning in one official spring game. Trembley said he told Arrieta: " 'Don't be in a hurry.' ... We want him to pitch every fifth day."
Trembley said Matusz, 22, who threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings in two Grapefruit League games, did a lot of the talking during their conversation yesterday.
