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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Kiwi teen signs with Orioles

Makes sense, the O’s can’t fly either.

Walt Davis Posted: January 18, 2012 at 07:22 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minor leagues, orioles

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1. birdlives is one crazy ninja Posted: January 18, 2012 at 08:42 PM (#4039817)

Big league deal? Surely that's a typo.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 18, 2012 at 08:45 PM (#4039819)

I think it is. I remember the Royals signed a 17 year old South African kid and their local news reported it as a six year Major League deal, when it in fact was just a minor league deal and the kid I don't think even reached A ball.

3. Walt Davis Posted: January 18, 2012 at 08:50 PM (#4039825)

I think it's a safe bet that the vagaries of the baseball labour market are beyond the Kiwi press. I also assume it's not really a "7-year deal". I assume he just got a standard contract and the O's own his rights for ... well, however long they can control him.

I wonder what sort of bonus he got.

4. Der_K is feeling better now. Posted: January 18, 2012 at 08:59 PM (#4039832)

7 yrs is the standard - minor league free agency is attained after 6 contract renewals.

5. Swedish Chef Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:05 PM (#4039837)

Overseas news orgs aren't going to make any fine technical distinctions between major and minor league deals. They see that the player is signed by the big club, they may be dimly aware that he is going to play for a farm team and that he has some way to go, but that's is as far as it goes. All that stupid crap about 40-man rosters and option years? Forget it.

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:10 PM (#4039840)

So, what was the big "code" switching controversy?

7. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:28 PM (#4039849)

#6, he switched from softball to baseball.

8. Voros McCracken, Human Shield Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:36 PM (#4039852)

Youtbue of Pita homering in softball in Canada

9. Mike Emeigh

Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:39 PM (#4039853)

"Switching codes", in New Zealand parlance, is changing sports - in this case, quitting softball for baseball. Rona, along with his father Brad and Ben Enoka, quit the New Zealand national team's softball program to focus on baseball. It's more common in rugby.

-- MWE

10. Crispix Attacks Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:43 PM (#4039856)

Thanks, MWE. Interesting.

New Zealand's greatest baseball player so far, Travis Wilson, is now a college softball coach.

11. Richard Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:44 PM (#4039859)

It's more common in rugby.

Switching from Rugby Union to Rugby League is front page news in New Zealand...

12. Mike Emeigh

Posted: January 18, 2012 at 09:49 PM (#4039864)

Switching from Rugby Union to Rugby League is front page news in New Zealand...

Isn't the transition usually in the other direction, from League to Union?

-- MWE

13. Richard Posted: January 18, 2012 at 11:39 PM (#4039927)

Isn't the transition usually in the other direction, from League to Union?

Depends on the country and era. When Rugby Union was "amateur" prior to 1995, it was all Union to League. Now, players go both ways, with a bias to moving from League to Union I'd guess.

14. cardsfanboy

Posted: January 19, 2012 at 12:27 AM (#4039959)

As long as I live, I'll associate Kiwi with shoe polish, and immediately think of the bird. I was wondering what a bird was doing getting a contract in baseball.

15. Howie Menckel Posted: January 19, 2012 at 12:37 AM (#4039965)

One of my nieces is spending the next few months abroad in New Zealand for a college semester.
And she's probably too old for this kid....

16. Greg (U)K Posted: January 19, 2012 at 04:46 AM (#4040022)

Does anyone know what happened to Scott Campbell? He had a nice 2008 in AA which seemed like it gave him a shot to play some MLB ball, but he got injured the next year and I haven't heard from him since.

17. Gamingboy Posted: January 19, 2012 at 10:56 AM (#4040104)

If I remember correctly, NZ is actually a pretty big power when it comes to men's fast-pitch softball.

18. cooper7d7 Posted: January 19, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4040530)

Now, players go both ways

I really dont see what sexual orientation has to do with anything, some people!

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Kiwi teen signs with Orioles

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