Given McCurry's age and his current success with the Shorebirds, Stockstill said the pitcher could be in line for a promotion to High-A Frederick this year.
And perhaps next season he'll go to Bowie and join his neighbor McCall, with whom he played catch every other day this offseason as part of his throwing program.
His ultimate goal is much loftier, though. McCurry wants to be one of those rare 43rd-round picks to succeed in the majors.
"It'll definitely make it sweeter," McCurry said. "Others have been drafted late and made it to the big leagues and had great careers. That will be awesome, and that's what I intend to do."
Shorebirds notes: : After starting slowly, outfielder Xavier Avery, the Orioles' second-round pick (50th overall) last year, batted .455 (15-for-33) during a recent 10-game stretch that included five multi-hit games. Avery tripled twice Thursday and hit his first pro homer May 3 in his 246th minor league at-bat. ... First baseman Joe Mahoney's eight-game hitting streak ended Wednesday. It tied outfielder Kyle Hudson's for longest of the season. ... Left-hander Nate Nery was promoted to Frederick after going 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA for the Shorebirds.
