Atlantic League

Former Orioles outfielder and club Most Valuable Player Jay Gibbons will return to professional baseball next week with a team in the independent Atlantic League. Gibbons, whom the Orioles released in March, several months after he admitted to using human growth hormone and agreed to a Major League Baseball-imposed suspension, said he expects to sign with a New York- or New Jersey-based Atlantic League club by today and should be in uniform within days. "I want to continue my career and start over," said Gibbons, 31. "This is an opportunity, and that is all I have been looking for."

Dan Duquette's Orioles have become the landing spot for players looking for a second chance. If you were a failed, can't-miss prospect, an aging veteran or a successful independent league player, well, come to the Orioles and show whether you can make it to the big leagues. So it's really no surprise that the Orioles have announced they have signed left-handed hitting outfielder Adam Greenberg to a minor-league deal. He will not receive a formal invitation to spring training, however.

Minor-league baseball is coming to the boyhood home of Cal Ripken Jr. Maryland Baseball Limited Partnership Inc. will announce Wednesday that its Aberdeen team, which has no name yet, will compete this summer in the Atlantic League as one of two expansion franchises, minor league sources said yesterday. In its third season, the Atlantic League is for players cut by major-league teams during spring training, six-year minor-league free agents or those unsatisfied with Triple-A contracts they are being offered.

Two Orioles game day employees stood by a whiteboard that listed the lineups for Sunday's game against the Oakland A's, their eyes slowly scrolling down the nine names. They commented on catcher Matt Wieters' return to the starting lineup, among other things. Then their eyes stopped at the fifth name, crinkling at the sight of a name they didn't recognize. The man on the left says, “Who's Ford?” The man on the right shrugs his shoulders, and says, “Not sure.” At least for Sunday, he's the Orioles new starting left fielder, and it makes sense that not many people recognize his name, at least not yet.   The 35-year old Ford was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 12 th round of the 1999 draft, but he hasn't played a game in the major leagues since 2007, when he hit .233 as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

Minor leagues Yesterday's results Single-A S. Atlantic League playoffs (Best-of-three series) Delmarva 1, Piedmont 0 (Series tied 1-1) Independent Atlantic League Bridgeport 4, Aberdeen 3, 13 inn. Today's games South Atlantic League Delmarva at Piedmont, 7:05 p.m. Atlantic League Aberdeen at Bridgeport, 7:05 p.m.

Phone numbers to call for ticket information for the Orioles and minor-league teams in the state.Orioles 410-685-9800Bowie BaysoxDouble-A Eastern League 301-805-6000Frederick KeysSingle-A Carolina League 301-662-0013Hagerstown SunsSingle-A S. Atlantic League 301-791-6266Delmarva ShorebirdsSingle-A S. Atlantic League 410-219-3112 or 888-BIRDS-96

Open tryouts for players with college or professional experience will be held April 1 at noon by the expansion Aberdeen franchise of the independent Atlantic League. Former Oriole Billy Ripken, who is Aberdeen's director of baseball operations, will supervise the tryout, to be held on Thomas Run Field at Harford Community College. Players should have proof that they have been released from professional organizations and be ready to sign an Atlantic League professional contract. Registration costs $15 in advance or $20 on the the day of the tryout.

Former Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons confirmed last night that he will sign a contract this week with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. "I'm looking forward to getting back and playing ball again," said Gibbons, who will likely start working out with the Ducks in the next couple of days. "It's been 10 weeks, so hopefully I can get out on the field some time this week." Gibbons, 31, was released by the Orioles in March several months after he admitted to using human growth hormone.

It's not a summertime diversion for college players, nor is it a place for major-league organizations to assign still untested prospects. The Atlantic League is what it is, a concept that's different from anything else in professional baseball -- where veteran free agents can find an opportunity to play with the hope of being re-discovered. Joe Klein, the president of the league, with offices in West Chester, Pa., is elated over what has happened and how the effort has fulfilled the goals intended.

Single-A Delmarva infielder Nicky Delmonico was named the Most Valuable Player of tonight's South Atlantic League All-Star Game in Charleston, S.C. Delmonico, the Orioles' No. 6-ranked prospect by Baseball America, played a key role in the North's 3-2 win, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. The 19-year-old Delmonico hit a one-out infield single to shortstop in the fifth inning, then scored two batters later on Kevan Smith's RBI double to left. Delmonico then laced a one-out double to right, moving to third on an error by South second baseman Delino DeShields.

YORK, Pa. -- Jay Gibbons is a 50-minute drive from the place where he was once a hero, 50 minutes away from a stadium where his best buddies are still revered. This is the closest he has been to Baltimore since the Orioles released him in March, giving up on their former right fielder after seven seasons. He acknowledges that it's strange to be so close, and so distant. "It is tough being here. It's tough seeing all the `O's' on the cars here," said Gibbons, whose Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League played the York Revolution in a three-game series that started Friday.

Former Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons confirmed last night that he will sign a contract this week with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. "I'm looking forward to getting back and playing ball again," said Gibbons, who will likely start working out with the Ducks in the next couple of days. "It's been 10 weeks, so hopefully I can get out on the field some time this week." Gibbons, 31, was released by the Orioles in March several months after he admitted to using human growth hormone.

Former Orioles outfielder and club Most Valuable Player Jay Gibbons will return to professional baseball next week with a team in the independent Atlantic League. Gibbons, whom the Orioles released in March, several months after he admitted to using human growth hormone and agreed to a Major League Baseball-imposed suspension, said he expects to sign with a New York- or New Jersey-based Atlantic League club by today and should be in uniform within days. "I want to continue my career and start over," said Gibbons, 31. "This is an opportunity, and that is all I have been looking for."

A former radio executive said yesterday he has bought majority control of three Maryland-based farm teams of the Orioles. David Pearlman, president of Triple Play Partners LLC of Lexington, Mass., declined to say how much he paid to Comcast-Spectacor for the Double-A Bowie Baysox and the Single-A Frederick Keys and Delmarva Shorebirds. Triple Play Partners was started this year by Pearlman and partner Steve Horowitz. Pearlman, a former senior executive at Infinity Radio and co-founder of American Radio Systems, said the two plan to buy more minor league teams across the country.

Baltimore has become home to the Baltimore Buzz, a charter member of a women's professional volleyball league. "It's great not having to travel overseas anymore," said team member Monica Scott, referring to players going abroad after college. "Now we can play in our back yard." Scott, a setter, is also an assistant volleyball coach at Morgan State University. She is one of 10 players named to the initial roster of the Buzz, which is scheduled to meet the D.C. Dragons in a free exhibition game at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the U.S. Naval Academy's Halsey Field House.

Minor leagues Yesterday's results Single-A S. Atlantic League playoffs (Best-of-three series) Delmarva 1, Piedmont 0 (Series tied 1-1) Independent Atlantic League Bridgeport 4, Aberdeen 3, 13 inn. Today's games South Atlantic League Delmarva at Piedmont, 7:05 p.m. Atlantic League Aberdeen at Bridgeport, 7:05 p.m.