Shorebirds, Orioles Extend Contract

SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds and Baltimore Orioles announced on Wednesday that they would be extending their existing player development contract for two more seasons. The Shorebirds' affiliation with the Orioles will continue through at least 2020.
"We at the Delmarva Shorebirds are thrilled to continue this long-standing partnership with the Baltimore Orioles," said Shorebirds General Manager Chris Bitters. "Salisbury and the entire Delmarva region are part of the heart of Birdland, and we look forward to hosting and developing the next generation of Orioles for years to come."
"We look forward to continuing our association with each of these clubs and are very pleased with the strong working relationship we have built over the years," said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette. "It's mutually beneficial to have all of our affiliates located in the Mid-Atlantic region, allowing our fans an opportunity to see the Orioles stars of the future in their own backyard before they join the Major League club. Each organization has proven to be an outstanding fit for the Orioles and will continue to help us build a championship club and expand the development of our players."
Baltimore has housed its Class-A affiliate in Salisbury since 1997, the second year of the Shorebirds' existence. In those 22 seasons, Delmarva has captured a pair of South Atlantic League championships (1997, 2000) and hosted two SAL All-Star Games (1999, 2011). Most importantly, the Shorebirds have sent over 70 former players from Perdue Stadium to Camden Yards, from perennial All-Stars like Zach Britton and Manny Machado to Oriole fan favorites like Dylan Bundy and Trey Mancini.
In addition to Delmarva, the Orioles have also extended agreements with their other minor league affiliates in Norfolk (Triple-A), Bowie (Double-A), Frederick (High-A), and Aberdeen (Short-Season A), keeping the existing development structure in place through the end of the decade.