masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgMatt Angle, one of the O’s top outfield prospects, was moved today from Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk and immediately joined the Tides lineup as the leadoff hitter and center fielder.

Angle went 5 for 22 in 16 games for the Orioles in spring training but suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand very late in camp and underwent surgery.

He joined Double-A Bowie on May 13 and hit .383-1-9 in 14 games. He went six for nine in his last two Baysox games on Thursday and Friday and hit .429 vs….Matt Angle, one of the O’s top outfield prospects, was moved today from Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk and immediately joined the Tides lineup as the leadoff hitter and center fielder.

Angle went 5 for 22 in 16 games for the Orioles in spring training but suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand very late in camp and underwent surgery.

He joined Double-A Bowie on May 13 and hit .383-1-9 in 14 games. He went six for nine in his last two Baysox games on Thursday and Friday and hit .429 vs. left-handed pitching. He went seven for 15 with runners in scoring positon. He’s considered an above average defender.

“He performed really well at Double-A and now it’s time to see what he can do with this challenge,” O’s director of player development, John Stockstill said.

The 24-year-old lefty hitter was drafted in round seven out of Ohio State in 2007. He has 118 stolen bases in 337 career O’s minor league games.

Angle played in just 23 games at Double-A, including eight late last year, before this move to Norfolk. He spent most of 2009 with Frederick and batted .289-1-32 with 40 steals and was a Carolina League post-season All-Star. He then went to the Arizona Fall League and hit .237 in 19 games.

This seems to be part of a bigger plan for the O’s to move some of their top prospects faster through the system and challenge them at higher levels.

Angle had two singles in his first four at bats with the Tides tonight. He could wind up playing some at all three outfield spots at Norfolk. Outfielder Danny Figueroa moved back to Bowie from Norfolk.

Also today, the O’s put last year’s fourth-round pick, pitcher Randy Hendry on the disabled list. Here is my story on that move.