The Orioles signed catcher David Banuelos to a brand new minor league contract, MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko studies (X hyperlink). The deal incorporates an invite to Baltimore’s massive league Spring Coaching camp.
Banuelos had been eligible for minor league free agent however the contract ensures that he’ll stay within the Orioles group for a second 12 months. After signing a minors cope with the O’s final winter, Banuelos made his Main League debut within the type of a pinch-hit look in Baltimore’s 11-3 win over the Twins on April 16. That lone recreation marked Banuelos’ solely MLB look of the season, and he additionally performed in solely 22 video games for Triple-A Norfolk.
The shortage of correct enjoying time was because of Banuelos’ standing as a daily member of the Orioles’ taxi squad, because the O’s wished an emergency catcher obtainable to again up Adley Rutschman and James McCann. With Rutschmann enjoying nearly day by day as both a catcher or DH, the Orioles wished further depth if an harm hit both of their two common backstops. This left Banuelos with out a lot enjoying time since Rutschman and McCann each averted the injured listing — considerably remarkably in McCann’s case, given how he was hit within the face with a pitch again on July 29.
Banuelos additionally spent a part of the season in roster limbo, because the Orioles designated the catcher for project and outrighted him off their 40-man roster on three separate events. After being outrighted the primary time, Banuelos gained the suitable to reject any future outright assignments in favor of free company, although Banuelos opted to stay with Baltimore after he cleared waivers the subsequent two instances.
Even with only a cup of espresso within the Present, Banuelos can now formally name himself a giant leaguer after seven professional seasons. A fifth-round decide for the Mariners within the 2017 draft, Banuelos spent simply his first season in Seattle’s group earlier than he was dealt to the Twins, and he performed in Minnesota’s farm system from 2018-23. Banuelos has hit .216/.283/.354 over 1265 profession plate appearances within the minors.
