VFL and two-time Tennessee Baseball All-American J.P. Arencibia has signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2015 season, as announced by the club's this week.
While with the Texas Rangers last season, Arencibia hit nine doubles, 10 home runs and collected 35 RBI in 62 Major League games. He also played 48 games with the organization's Triple A Round Rock club, where he hit .279 with 14 homers and 41 RBI as the team's primary catcher/first baseman. On the year, his 14 home runs ranked third-best for the Express.
Entering the 2015 season, Arencibia owns a career .207 average with 64 doubles, 74 home runs and 228 RBI in 442 Major League games including parts of three seasons (2011-13) with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 458 minor league games since being drafted by Toronto in the first round (21st overall pick) of the June 2007 Draft, the 29 year old owns a .275 average.
Named a Freshman All-American selection by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger after hitting .322 with 14 home runs, Arencibia was also named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2005 with the Tennessee Volunteers. During his sophomore campaign on Rocky Top, he went on to produce a .352 average with 11 homers to claim All-America accolades from Louisville Slugger and the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) in 2006.
Here's a look at the coverage on Arencibia's deal with Baltimore:
- Baltimore Sun: Orioles agree to minor league deal with J.P. Arencibia
- Baltimore Wire: Baltimore Orioles: J.P. Arencibia's childhood dream comes trueÂ
- Dallas Morning News: Baltimore adds another ex-Texas Ranger
