masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRyan Adams started at second base last night for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse. He didn’t know then that after the game he would be told he was coming to Baltimore to make his major league debut.

Tonight, Adams will bat ninth and play second for the Orioles here at Camden Yards. He will make his big league debut after 458 minor league games in the O’s organization.

“I had no idea (I’d get called up),” Adams said. “I’d just been focusing on playing hard and taking care of what…Ryan Adams started at second base last night for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse. He didn’t know then that after the game he would be told he was coming to Baltimore to make his major league debut.

Tonight, Adams will bat ninth and play second for the Orioles here at Camden Yards. He will make his big league debut after 458 minor league games in the O’s organization.

“I had no idea (I’d get called up),” Adams said. “I’d just been focusing on playing hard and taking care of what I have to do. I wasn’t paying that close attention to it.

“We’ll see at game time (if I’m nervous), but I’m just really excited. I’m just kind of taking it all in.”

His parents arrived in Baltimore earlier today from New Orleans to see their son play in his first big league game.

“I called them last night after Gary (Allenson) told me and they were real excited,” Adams said. “They got the first plane out this morning.”

Adams was batting .302 with two homers and eight RBIs in 39 games with Norfolk. He was batting .500, at 18-for-36 against left-handed pitching.

He has heard plenty of criticism in recent years about his work on defense, but feels he has made improvements there.

“I’ve just been working really hard with (minor league coaches) Bobby Dickerson and Mike Bordick,” Adams said. “We worked hard every day in spring training and it carried over into the season. I’m a lot more comfortable out there. I’ve worked hard at it every day.”

He said he had no idea whether he’d see his name in the lineup or not, but that he feels comfortable in the clubhouse since he got to know many of the Orioles players in spring training.

“Got to meet a bunch of the guys there. Being there definitely helped out,” he said.