MIAMI — The large scoreboard in left field at Marlins Park continually scrolls Major League Baseball's leaders during pregame festivities. For the first time this year, Jimmy Paredes' name appeared on it. Heading into play Saturday, Paredes was second in the American League in batting with a .353 average, ahead of Detroit's Miguel Cabrera and one point behind Paredes' former Orioles teammate Nelson Cruz, now with the Seattle Mariners.
"Wow. It is amazing. It's surprising to see, being between those two guys," said Paredes, the Orioles designated hitter/infielder. "Those are big men right there, big hitters. Like, wow. I feel great."
Paredes missed the start of the season with a lower-back strain, so despite how well he had been hitting, he didn't have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title until Friday, when he had three hits in five at-bats.
"I saw that I could be there in the leaders yesterday after four at-bats," Paredes said. "But I know I don't focus on that. I try to go and play and do well and if that happens, that's good."
Technically, Paredes was the AL leader at game time Saturday night in Miami. Cruz went 1-for-4 in an afternoon game to drop from .354 to .352.
"I think it is great," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I don't think he is going to sneak up on anybody anymore. He is out of the ambush mode, but he keeps doing it. He got two hits [Friday] night because he can run."
Paredes, a career .242 hitter in 145 major league games before this year, hasn't slowed down since joining the team in mid-April. And Showalter said he doesn't think the success will go to the 25-year-old's head.
"He's played like a guy that should be leading the American League in hitting. Every time you think [he'll stumble], all the sudden there goes another one," Showalter said. "I'm really happy for Jimmy because he is getting something back from what he put in it."
Norris will make rehab start at Double-A
Right-hander Bud Norris, who was shelled Friday for 12 hits and nine earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings during an injury-rehabilitation start at Triple-A Norfolk, will pitch Wednesday at Double-A Bowie against Erie. He'll take his normal work day Monday in Baltimore with the big league staff.
As part of the collective bargaining agreement, a club can't force a player to continue injury-rehab assignments beyond what has been initially agreed to by both sides. So Norris, who was placed on the disabled list with bronchitis and lost 10 pounds while fighting the virus, could have denied the opportunity to pitch again in the minors, but he was agreeable, Showalter said.
"Bud knows he's close. His slider is better, he felt good physically," Showalter said of Norris, who is 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA in six starts in the majors this year. "He said his legs weren't quite under him [Friday]. He said he thinks they'll be there next time."
Wednesday's outing means Norris will not be available to start either end of Thursday's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Showalter said one of those games could be started by a member of the current bullpen or by calling up someone from the minors. Teams are allowed to have 26 players for a scheduled doubleheader.
Wilson wins, is sent down
Because they wanted to add a fresh arm to the bullpen after consecutive short starts, the Orioles demoted tight-hander Tyler Wilson to Norfolk on Saturday to make room for reliever Oliver Drake.
Wilson, 25, made two appearances for the Orioles after being recalled on Monday's day off. He pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday in his major league debut and allowed one run in one-plus innings Friday when he recorded his first major league win.
Overall, the former University of Virginia pitcher allowed five hits, no walks and one run in two innings. He struck out one batter, future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki. On Saturday, Showalter gave Wilson the lineup card from Friday's win, and then sent him to Norfolk, where he'll return to the rotation.
"Tyler needs to start. We had Tyler in today. The good news, bad news: 'Here's the lineup card. Congratulations,'" Showalter said. "He knows. He's a starting pitcher prospect for us."
Orioles sign Cuban lefty
The Orioles have agreed to a minor league deal with 25-year-old Cuban defector Ariel Miranda, pending a physical Tuesday, according to a club source. No terms of the signing have been disclosed, but because of his age and experience, the move will not affect the organization's allotted international signing pool.
Miranda, a left-handed starter, has put up solid numbers in Cuba, where he has pitched in that country's top league since he was 17. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Miranda last pitched in organized ball in 2013. He pitched for two different teams that year, going a combined 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 80 batters and walked 28 in 77 2/3 innings. Miranda was 22-25 with a 3.78 ERA in parts of seven seasons in Cuba. He reportedly has been in the Dominican Republic after defecting.
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