Larish has hit .224/.308/.360 across three major league seasons.

Fossum, 34, has not pitched in the majors since 2009 with the Mets. He has a career record of 40-53 with a 5.45 ERA, 1.517 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9, and a 7.0 K/9.

Fossum posted an 0-4 record with a 6.56 ERA, and a 1.738 WHIP in 35.2 innings for the Mets AAA team in 2011.

He was drafted in the 7th round of the 1996 draft by the Diamondbacks. Buck Showalter was a part of the team then. He was later drafted by the Red Sox in the 1st round of the 1999 draft. Dan Duquette was their GM at the time.

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The Orioles today announced that they have signed and invited 14 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp, nine of whom have previous major league experience.

Pitchers invited to camp include: LHPs RYAN EDELL and DENNYS REYES and RHPs WILLIE EYRE, ARMANDO GALARRAGA, STEVE JOHNSON, JON LINK, PAT NESHEK, MIGUEL SOCOLOVICH and OSCAR VILLARREAL. Position players invited include: CAs JOHN HESTER, RONNY PAULINO and BRIAN WARD; OF SCOTT BEERER and INF STEVE TOLLESON.

Of the pitchers invited, six have major league experience, with four spending at least part of 2011 in the major leagues. Galarraga went 3-4 in eight starts with the Diamondbacks and also spent time with Triple-A Reno in 2011.  He fell one out shy of a perfect game against Cleveland on June 2, 2010 with Detroit.  Neshek pitched to a 4.01 ERA (24.2IP, 11ER) in 25 relief appearances for the Padres in addition to 24 games with Triple-A Tucson last season.  He pitched to a 2.94 ERA in 74 appearances for the Twins in 2007, ranking 14th among AL relievers with 70.1 innings pitched.  Eyre posted a 3.44 ERA (18.1IP, 7ER) in 19 games for the Orioles last season in addition to time with Triple-A Sacramento and Norfolk. Reyes, a veteran of parts of 15 seasons, appeared in four games for the Red Sox last year.

Edell won 10 games and posted a 3.38 ERA (149.0 IP, 56ER) in 29 games (22 starts) between Double and Triple-A in the Phillies’ system in 2011.  Johnson went 5-1 with a 2.16 ERA (58.1IP, 14ER) in 10 starts with Double-A Bowie and made 17 starts for Triple-A Norfolk last season.  Link struck out 63 batters in 68.0 innings over 54 appearances at Triple-A Albuquerque.  Socolovich appeared in 35 games between Double and Triple-A in the White Sox system, posting a 3.44 ERA (55.0IP, 21ER).  Villarreal posted a 2.80 ERA (45.0IP, 14ER) in 43 games with Monterrey of the Mexican League and appeared in two games with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Paulino hit .268/.312/.351 in 78 games with the Mets in 2011.  His best season came in 2006, when he hit .310/.360/.394 in 129 games for the Pirates.  Hester batted .251/.324/.341 with five home runs in 82 games for Triple-A Norfolk after beginning the season with Triple-A Reno.  Ward batted .254/.339/.382 in 104 games with Class-A Frederick last season.

Beerer batted .372/.401/.514 in 41 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs after beginning the season with a .290/.335/.463 line in 89 games with Double-A Tulsa.  Tolleson batted a combined .275 with 38 extra-base hits in 123 games between Sacramento and Tucson at the Triple-A level.

Orioles pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout in Sarasota on February 19, and the first full squad workout will take place February 24. The Orioles will open the 2012 Grapefruit League schedule on March 5 with split squad games at 1:05 p.m. against the Rays in Port Charlotte and 7:05 p.m. at home against the Pirates.

O’s minor league pitchers will hold their first workout in Sarasota on Sunday, March 4. The first minor league full squad workout will take place on Thursday, March 8.  Minor league games begin Wednesday, March 14.

A complete list of the Orioles’ 2012 spring training roster is attached.

Born April 26, 1994, Kim is a 5-foot, 11-inch, 180-pound left-hander that throws a fastball, curveball, change up, and slider.  He had been pitching for the 18 and under South Korean national team.

“We are glad to sign a player that our scouts feel is one of the top amateur left-handed pitchers in South Korea,” said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE.  “Kim has an excellent curveball and very good control.”

I can remember one kid smiling broadly at me and pounding his glove hard. “Sammy, Sammy, he yelled at me. I got it. I was wearing a mustache at the time. But come on kid, I’m 5-foot-10 and the stud Sammy Stewart towers at 6-3.

I said no I wasn’t Sammy and moved out of there. But the expressions the kids showed off that night was exhilarating. Those fans loved and admired the Orioles players.

What Orioles fan couldn’t feel great about Sammy Stewart? He was big and threw hard. I never met him but what an explosive pitcher he could be.

I had a meeting a few years back with a school principal out in Illinois, who played minor league baseball with Stewart. And then I broke the news to him that Stewart was behind bars.

What happens to a ballplayer when his playing days run out? Some get a job in baseball. Some in broadcasting. Most take their money and have a good life.

Stewart took his fortune and invested in illegal drugs. He’s been arrested so many times that I’m sure he’s in some sort of Hall-of-Fame for that. He’s in jail in his hometown state of North Carolina. There are stories of Stewart begging for money and living like a bum. What a sad story.

Maybe he can reflect on his pitching debut in Baltimore on the first day of September, 1978. It was a twin bill with the Chicago White Sox. The Birds were 14 games over .500 but still buried in fifth place behind first-place Boston.

Stewart would pitch in game two of the doubleheader. Jim Palmer claimed his 17th win in the first game out-dueling Chicago’s Steve Stone 3-0. Stewart would be faced by another young pitcher in Ross Baumgarten. And it was a strange first inning for both hurlers.

Stewart’s no-hitter vanished immediately when Claudell Washington singled to center. Catcher Dave Skaggs helped his rookie pitcher by throwing out Washington stealing. The White Sox didn’t score that inning but it was clear Stewart was nervous. He uncorked a wild pitch and made an error in that frame.

The Orioles’ bats made Stewart feel welcome in the home half of the first. Rich Dauer’s RBI scored Mark Belanger to put Baltimore on the board. Eddie Murray had a sacrifice fly and Lee May added a two-run homer. A four-run first chased Baumgarten.

And then Stewart settled in. Jorge Orta struck out., Chet Lemon struck out. And Thad Bosley struck out in the second. In the third, Mike Colbern, Kevin Bell and Washington fanned. In the fourth inning, shortstop Greg Pryor whiffed giving Stewart seven strikeouts in a row. It was a major league record for a pitcher making his debut appearance in the majors. That mark was later tied by Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg.

Stewart won his first game 9-3 with help from reliever Joe Kerrigan. He fanned nine in this victory which would prove to be his career high in that first game.

In his 362 major league games, Stewart wore his Orioles uniform in 310 of those contests. Stewart also had the luxury of pitching in four World Series games. He also picked up a four-inning save in an American League playoff win over the White Sox in 1983.  He notched 57 wins in an Orioles uniform.

And then he discovered drugs.

McClellan, 27, posted a 12-7 record with a 4.19 ERA, 1.313 WHIP, 4.92 FIP, and a 4.34 xFIP in 141.2 innings as a starter and reliever last season for the Cardinals. The Orioles like him in either role, according to Kubatko.

As a starter last season, he posted a 6-6 record with a 4.21 ERA, 1.280 WHIP, and a 4.6 K/9. As a reliever he posted a 4.14 ERA, 1.405 WHIP and a 5.6 K/9. Last season was his first time ever starting at the MLB level.

McClellan has a career 19-22 record with 3.61 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 4.16 xFIP, 6.16 K/9, and a 3.16 BB/9

It seems the Cardinals are attempting to relieve some salary in the attempt to sign Roy Oswalt. For the Orioles, he would either jump into the starting rotation battle or assume a role in the back-end of the bullpen.

Encina provided a brief scouting report on Sung-min in his report:

His fastball tops off at 90 but usually hits the high 80s. His 12-to-6 curveball is well above average — especially for his age — as is his change up. The team expects him to progress with age.

Vandenhurk, 26, pitched only 25.1 innings for the Orioles. He posted a 6.04 ERA with a 1.579 WHIP. Vandenhurk was acquired by the Orioles in 2010 for Will Ohman

Betemit, 30, has a career .269/.336/,448 batting line over nine seasons with the Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox, Royals, and Tigers. Last season with the Tigers and Royals, Betemit posted a .285/.343/452 batting line with a .381 BABIP and a .340 wOBA.

Betemit can play multiple positions but  is not known for his glove. A majority of the games he played in last season were at third base. He will also provide the Orioles with another bat off the bench and could also factor into the DH spot.

This signing could also be a sign that Brian Roberts is not going to be ready for the start of the season. That would make Andino the most likely second base candidate, meaning Betemit could help take over the utility role along with Matt  Antonelli and possibly Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty.

Betemit, 30, has a career .269/.336/,448 batting line over nine seasons with the Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox, Royals, and Tigers. Last season with the Tigers and Royals, Betemit posted a .285/.343/452 batting line with a .381 BABIP and a .340 wOBA.

Betemit can play multiple positions but  is not known for his glove. A majority of the games he played in last season were at third base. He will also provide the Orioles with another bat off the bench and could also factor into the DH spot. This signing could also be a sign that Brian Roberts is not going to be ready for the start of the season. That would make Andino the most likely second base candidate, meaning Betemit could help take over the utility role along with Matt  Antonelli and possibly Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty.

Hudson, 25, has a career .276/.362./.314 batting line with zero HR in four minor league seasons with the Orioles. He hit .143/.143/.143 last season with the Orioles in 28 at bats.

Hudson was a 4th round pick out of  Illinois in 2008.

Adair, 24, is the son of current Orioles’ pitching coach Rick Adair. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2008 draft. He has a .288/.346/.370 batting line in four seasons in the Braves organization, although never reaching any level higher than AA. Last season he hit .238/.284/.333 in 135 at bats with the Braves AA team.

Abreu, 34, played for the Orioles for a short time in 2006, posting a 10.13 ERA in 8.0 innings pitched. He has a career 7.31 ERA in 38 games in the majors with the Orioles, Nationals, Rays and Indians. Last season he went 8-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 66.1 innings pitched for the Blue Jays in AAA Las Vegas.

Villarreal, 30, has a 24-15 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.372 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9, and a 6.3 K/9 in 336 innings throughout his six seasons in the majors. The last time he pitched in the majors was in 2008 with the Houston Astros.

Villarreal pitched majority of 2011 in the Mexican League, where he went 0-4 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.511 WHIP, and 18 saves. He also made 2 brief appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA team.

Anderson, 48, had most recently been helping the Orioles with conditioning, although he had no specific role within the organization.

Rona, 17, is a former Black Sox softball player. There is not much else known about him at the time. The plan is for him to meet up with the team’s development program in Australia, according to Stuff.co.nz

There has never been a major league baseball player from New Zealand.

Cordero, 36, posted a  5-3 record with a 2.45 ERA, 1.109 WHIP and 37 Saves in 69.2 innings last season for the Cincinnati Reds. Over his career, he has 327 saves in thirteen seasons with the Rangers, Brewers and Reds. He has accumulated 150 saves over the past four seasons. However, It may be a bit worrisome how his K% has gradually decreased over the past few years (33.0%, 25.4%, 21.0%, 18.7%, 15.3%).

A signing of Cordero would potentially provide the Orioles with some depth behind Kevin Gregg and Jim Johnson. It also could provide the Orioles the chance to move Jim Johnson into the rotation. They could also attempt the move Gregg, Connolly speculates.

Mark Blackmar, an athletic pitcher out of Temple JC, was the Orioles’ 16th round selection in the 2011 draft. His father is PGA  golfer Phil Blackmar.

Blackmar made an impressive pro debut in the GCL, where he didn’t allow a run and struck out 15 in 17 innings. He held hitters to a .153 average and also posted an impressive ground ball rate (3.38 GO/AO).

Scouting Report

Don: Do not let Blackmar’s 16th round pick status fool you at all about his ability on the mound. Consistent pitchers that induce ground balls will always be a high commodity for MLB teams.

He is still learning the craft of pitching, but he is doing much more than I could have ever anticipated based off of his professional debut. Blackmar’s strong point is his command of the fastball and change up.

Blackmar is the son of PGA golfer Phil Blackmar.

Blackmar’s change up has very good drop for his age and pedigree.  He keeps the ball low and away with a great deal of success.  I suspect that he will be a high ground ball pitcher because of the action on his changeup.

His upper 80s two-seamer has nice bite and drop, but is not quite at the stage of a sinker.  It shows some promise and could be a nice 1-2 punch with the changeup down the road.

His fastball can easily touch the low 90s in the future, but it really is about projection with him.  I suspect that if he improves his strength and size it would allow him to sit in the low-mid 90s, and potentially mid-90s, consistently as a starter. There is a good deal of projection left in the 19 year old.

As with any young pitcher, Blackmar needs time to fully focus his craft, work to improve his arsenal, and iron out any small wrinkles in his game.  His early start in the Gulf Coast League was a nice surprise, but as the competition improves he must do so as well. Learning another quality off-speed pitch to throw in any count will benefit him greatly.

Future

He may not be on the tip of the tongue for even die hard Orioles prospect followers, but if he continues along this path it will not be long that he’s considered a “sleeper”.

After a strong debut, Blackmar should be able to claim a rotation spot with Aberdeen when the short-season leagues begin.

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Boulanger never played professional baseball, but has been coaching at the high-school,college, and professional levels since 1971. He has been with the Texas Rangers since 2003, and worked previously with the Twins and Red Sox.

The Orioles acquired Wynn Pelzer from the Padres in return for Miguel Tejada prior to the 2010 trade deadline. At the time of the deal, Pelzer had just been moved to the bullpen after struggling with his command as a starter. The Orioles kept him as a reliever when he pitched with Bowie in 2010, and he performed well, striking out 20 while walking just 7 in 20 Eastern League innings.

Despite his success, the Orioles decided to once again try him as a starter and moved him into Bowie’s 2011 rotation. He has been a different pitcher since. However, he’s still a prospect who could affect some MLB odds one day.

Pelzer was our #18 prospect last year.

Scouting Report

Don: Pelzer has always been a power pitcher who lived off a low to mid 90s fastball and slider combination, with the ability to keep the ball on the ground. He can flat out sling it out of his hands.

He has an electric arm and bottom driven foundation that allows him to get maximum effort with little pressure on his arm.  At this stage, he seems more comfortable against right handed batters, so that the biting slider can make the hitters’ knees buckle — when on its game.

Pelzer pitching for Scottsdale.

Pelzer needs to continue to tighten his command. He must find a consistent release point and the proper extension and follow through to effectively repeat his delivery.

He has explosive stuff and the ability to throw strikes efficiently would make it difficult for the opposition to square up on his stuff, and would maybe even induce a higher ratio of missed bats.

Future

If Pelzer makes the necessary mechanical adjustments to improve his command, his two pitches alone – fastball and slider — can make him a quality 6/7/8 inning reliever. But he must fine tune his approach and get ahead early in the count more frequently in order for the slider to become a true weapon.

Assuming he’s healthy, Pelzer has a very good chance to see the major leagues at some point in 2012, even if it’s as a September call up.

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