Right-hander David Hernandez was demoted to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, but the hard-throwing rookie likely will be back before the season ends.
"He did a nice job when he was here," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We'll look forward to getting him back at some particular point in time."
Hernandez, 24, was 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in three games (two starts). He won his major league debut May 28, allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings.
The Orioles needed to make room for starter Koji Uehara, who came off the disabled list to start Thursday's game against the Seattle Mariners, and Hernandez was the logical choice.
Although he might end up as a reliever in the big leagues, the organization wants him to continue to start and develop his secondary pitches - and the only opportunity for that was to send him back to Norfolk. He is slated to pitch for the Tides in Indianapolis on Sunday.
"I'm not saying [the rotation] is where he'll be down the road, but I think right now he should go start," Trembley said. "And then we'll see where our needs are and where his progress is at the next time."
Another draft complete
The Orioles completed the 2009 amateur draft Thursday, selecting nine high school pitchers in the final 20 rounds. Overall, the club drafted 30 pitchers (16 from college) and 20 hitters (13 from college).
"I thought it went great, I really did," said amateur scouting director Joe Jordan, who said he was especially pleased with his top three picks: hard-throwing California high schooler Matt Hobgood (fifth overall); highly touted Tampa, Fla., high school shortstop Mychal Givens in the second round; and Florida International first baseman Tyler Townsend in the third round.
Other potentially high-ceiling picks, according to Jordan, include ninth-round right-hander Ryan Berry out of Rice University; 11th-round pick Michael Ohlman, a Florida high school catcher who slipped because of signability issues; and fourth-round pick Randy Henry, who played shortstop in junior college after having ligament-reconstruction surgery but projects as a pitcher with a mid-90s fastball.
Minor league promotions
The starting rotations of the Orioles' top three affiliates will have a different look in the coming days. Jake Arrieta (6-3, 2.59 ERA) and Troy Patton, (6-2, 1.99), who have been the top two starters for Double-A Bowie, have been promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, with Arrieta getting the start for the Tides today and Patton taking his turn Monday or Tuesday.
