Matt Hobgood heads list of Orioles minor league free agents

The list of minor league free agents includes 33 players from the Orioles farm system.

Former first-round pick Matt Hobgood is included in the group, which Baseball America published earlier today.

Matt_Hobgood-sidebar_smiling.jpgHobgood, whose career has been derailed by injuries, underwent surgery on July 6 to remove a bone spur from his right shoulder. He was 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA in six games at Double-A Bowie and didn't pitch after June 17.

The Orioles made Hobgood, 25, the fifth overall pick in 2009 out of Norco (Calif.) High School after he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. He's 17-24 with a 4.98 ERA In 110 career games.

The Orioles aren't expected to re-sign Hobgood.

The free agent list also includes veteran first baseman Brandon Snyder, the Orioles' first-round pick in 2005 who signed a minor league deal in April and batted .278/.356/.467 with 26 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs in 93 games at Bowie.

Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Julio Borbon also is a free agent and the Orioles would like to re-sign him. He's a plus defender and manager Buck Showalter kept receiving positive reports on him during the summer.

Terry Doyle and knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa also are on the list. Doyle was a combined 16-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 26 games, including 21 starts at Bowie and Norfolk, but the Orioles didn't purchase his contract when rosters expanded in September.

Bobby Bundy, the older brother of Orioles' top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy, also is a free agent.

Former Orioles minor league infielder Buck Britton is a free agent after signing with the Dodgers over the winter. He's the older brother of Orioles closer Zach Britton.

The Orioles were hoping to re-sign Buck Britton last winter and could make another attempt.

Former Orioles left-hander Troy Patton, right-hander Jason Berken, infielders Alexi Casilla and Cord Phelps, and outfielders Xavier Avery and Chris Dickerson also are free agents. So is volatile reliever Alfredo Aceves, who was in camp with the Orioles in 2014.

Don't look for a reunion.

Mariners minor league outfielder Burt Reynolds is a free agent and I'm hoping the Orioles sign him just for the headline possibilities.




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