Givens Promoted, Keys Receive Almanzar on MLB Rehab

FREDERICK, MD -The Frederick Keys are pleased to announce that right-handed pitcher Mychal Givens has been promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Givens received news of the call-up after the Keys game on Saturday night at Carolina. Givens, 24, becomes the first member of the Keys to be move up Bowie this season, and the first to advance to Double-A since Johnny Ruettiger was called up on August 31, 2013.

One of the Carolina League's most dominant relief arms, Givens went 1-2 with a 3.24 ERA over 18 games with Frederick, and tallied three saves in four chances. During his time at Advanced-A, he held opponents to a .174 average, the lowest batting average against for either a starter or reliever in the CL. Over 33.1 innings, the Tampa gave up only 21 hits and 12 earned runs, while he posted a 2.00 groundout to airout ratio. In four May appearances, he went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

Rated the No. 23 prospect in the Orioles system according to Baseball America, Givens is only in his second professional season as a pitcher. Originally selected by Baltimore in the second round of the 2009 draft out of H.B. Plant (FL) High School, the righty began his career as an infielder, but hit only a combined .247 over three minor league seasons. Givens spent all of 2013 pitching at Low-A Delmarva, where he went 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 28 games.  

In a corresponding move, the Frederick Keys received right-hander Dennis Torres from Low-A Delmarva. In 17 games, the Lawrence, Massachusetts native went 1-3 with a 3.31 ERA to go along with three saves in four opportunities. On Saturday night, Torres made his Advanced-A debut, allowing two runs on five hits over two innings. The right-hander was selected by Baltimore in the 28th round of the 2012 draft out of UMass.

On Sunday, the Baltimore Orioles also transferred Michael Almanzar to the Frederick Keys as part of a Major League rehab assignment. In his first rehab game with the GCL Orioles on Friday, the infielder went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and committed two errors at third. Selected by Baltimore in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft last season, Almanzar has been rehabbing from a left knee injury. The 23-year-old is scheduled to be with the Keys through Thursday. Almanzar spent all of 2013 with Boston's Double-A affiliate in Portland. In 131 games, he hit .268 with 16 home runs and 81 RBIs over 131 games. He last played in the Carolina League in 2012 with the Salem Red Sox, batting .300 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 124 contests.  

Frederick begins a three-game series at Harry Grove Stadium on Sunday night when the Wilmington Blue Rocks come to town. Right-hander Parker Bridwell (4-6, 4.38) makes the start for the Keys and will be countered by Rocks lefty Jonathan Dziedzic (5-4, 2.80). First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m., and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source. For ticket information, fans can call 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.