masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Jairo Asencio from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Jair Jurrjens has been designated for assignment.

Asencio, 30, is 4-0 with an International League-leading 20 saves and a 2.15 ERA (37.2IP, 9ER) in 34 appearances with Triple-A Norfolk this season. He was named an International League All-Star and has struck out 41, walked seven and has made 27 scoreless appearances among…The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Jairo Asencio from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, right-hander Jair Jurrjens has been designated for assignment.

Asencio, 30, is 4-0 with an International League-leading 20 saves and a 2.15 ERA (37.2IP, 9ER) in 34 appearances with Triple-A Norfolk this season. He was named an International League All-Star and has struck out 41, walked seven and has made 27 scoreless appearances among his 34 outings. Asencio has held hitters to a .174 average (23-132), limiting left-handers to a .484 OPS (.226/.259) and right-handers to a .569 OPS (.218/.351). His unintentional walk rate of 1.19 per 9.0 innings and 7.41 base runners per 9.0 are also the best in the IL.

In three major league seasons with Atlanta (2009, ’11), Cleveland (’12) and the Cubs (’12), he is 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA (53.1IP, 31ER) in 39 games. Asencio was originally signed by Pittsburgh as an amateur free agent in 2001 and acquired by the Orioles from Milwaukee on March 25. He will wear uniform #63.

Jurrjens, 27, has pitched to a 4.91 ERA (7.1IP, 4ER) in two games (one start) for the Orioles this season and is 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA (94.2IP, 44ER) in 16 starts for the Tides.