Matt Wieters to Begin Season in Norfolk

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but the Baltimore Orioles announced today that super-prospect Matt Wieters is going to begin 2009 with their Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk. There's certain to be some wailing and gnashing of teeth over this move from both Oriole fans and fantasy owners (our own Knox Bardeen has already posted about the fantasy implications of this move), but it's the only one that makes sense for the Orioles right now.

Yes, Wieters had one of the best minor league seasons anyone's ever seen last year, hitting .355/.454/.600 across two levels in his first year of professional ball. Yes, he's hitting at close to that level this spring, going .343/.410/.543 in 35 spring at-bats. And yes, he's better than Gregg Zaun, who will open the year up as the Orioles catcher. It's just that none of that matters right now.

By holding Wieters in the minors for the opening part of this season, they gain an extra year of his services in the future. In 2009, the Orioles are in one of the most competitive divisions that we've seen since baseball went to three divisions, with the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees expected to be among the three best teams in the American League this year. Why rush a guy with only 530 minor league plate appearances to the majors for this year, wasting his eligibility for 2015 when the Orioles might have a chance to contend?

Wieters will be in Baltimore this year and he will be good when he gets there. There's no doubt of that in my mind. We're all just going to have to wait a little bit longer to see him.

Matt Wieters to Begin Season in Norfolk originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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