We’re just days away from the Baltimore Orioles taking the field for their first spring training game on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, but Mike Elias isn’t done bringing in new players to camp to battle for open roster spots.
As announced by the team on Wednesday afternoon, the Orioles have claimed infielder Andrew Velazquez off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Infielder Richard Urena, a previous waiver claim from the Toronto Blue Jays, has been designated for assignment to make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster.
Velazquez is a 25-year-old switch-hitter who previously spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays organizations before being traded to Cleveland in July of last season for cash considerations.