Orioles Like What They See In Rickard — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

BALTIMORE–The Orioles remained active participants in the Rule 5 draft, selecting outfielder Joey Rickard from the Rays’ organization with hopes that he can compete for a backup role.

Playing for three teams over the summer, Rickard hit .321/.427/.447 with 28 doubles, eight triples, two home runs and 55 RBIs. He stole 23 bases and scored 62 runs, bringing an element of speed an on-base capabilities that are missing from the Orioles.

Rickard batted .360/.437/.472 with six doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs in 29 games with Triple-A Durham. The Rays selected Rickard, 24, in the ninth round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Arizona

“This kid has had a great year,” Orioles general manager Dan Duquette said. “Started out in A-ball. They moved him to Double-A and he did even better. They sent him to Triple-A and he did even better there. At the end of the season, he went to the Dominican and did well there. He’s been one of the top players in the league in the Dominican.

“He has good on-base capability, good speed, excellent contact hitter, can steal a base. And he’s a good defensive player. He played center field and left.

“We think he gives us some depth. He just looks like he learned how to play. Looks like a good, solid overall ballplayer. Good discipline in the strike zone and we look forward to taking a look at him in the spring.”

The Orioles didn’t take a pitcher this year, knowing that Dylan Bundy is out of options and may need to be placed in the bullpen. They’ve been searching for outfielders all winter.

“We looked at some outfielders,” Duquette said. “We have a need and opportunity in the outfield. We recognized Joey Rickard’s improvement. You look at how he is trending and he’s trending up. Very rarely do you see a player get moved up as quickly as he moved up this year. Outfield was definitely the depth of this draft.

BIRD SEED

• The Orioles also selected righthander Cory Jones and lefthander Chipper Smith in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. Jones, taken from the Cardinals’ organization, is 9-4, 3.81 in 21 starts over three seasons in the minors. Smith, taken from the Marlins, is 20-17, 3.50 in 102 career minor league games over four seasons.

• Matt Merullo is leaving the organization after failing to have his contract renewed. Merullo, a former major league catcher, managed the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team in 2015 and short-season Aberdeen in 2013-2014.