Bowie Baysox first baseman Calvin Pickering and reliever Gabe Molina have been named the Orioles' Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year.

Pickering, 22, was chosen the Double-A Eastern League's Player of the Year after batting .309 with 31 homers and 114 RBIs. He appeared in nine games with the Orioles after a September call-up, hitting .238 with two homers.

Molina, 23, set a Baysox record with 24 saves despite spending part of the year in a set-up role. He went 3-2 with a 3.36 ERA, walking 27 and striking out 75 in 61 2/3 innings. His 24 saves were second to Single-A Delmarva's Derek Brown (33) among Orioles minor-leaguers.

Pickering and Molina made the jump from Delmarva to Bowie this season, bypassing higher Single-A Frederick. Pickering has an outside chance to win a job with the Orioles out of spring training next year if the team doesn't re-sign Rafael Palmeiro, but most likely will be assigned to Triple-A Rochester. Molina also is expected to join the Red Wings.

Pub Date: 11/05/98