SCF Standout Finds New Baseball Home With Orioles

For several years, as a minor leaguer with the Milwaukee Brewers, Robert Hinton of Sarasota had to make the long drive to Arizona for spring training.

"My family never got to see me in spring training," said Hinton, a standout at , where he caught the eye of the Brewers.

As a minor league free agent after last season the  graduate told family and friends that with a new team he had a decent chance of being in Florida for spring training in 2012. His situation got even better when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles, who have spent Spring Training at since 2010.

"It was really nice to have Spring Training in Sarasota," said Hinton, who lives year-round in his hometown. "It was really convenient."

Plus Major League advice is just a phone call away. His father, Rich, pitched in the majors from 1971-79 with the White Sox, Mariners, Reds, Yankees and Rangers and was 9-17 in 116 games with 4.87 ERA.

The right-handed reliever has spent this season with the Class AA Bowie (MD) Baysox of the Eastern League.

Through Thursday Hinton has appeared in 35 games, nearly all out of the bullpen, with one save and one loss, and a 3.02 ERA. In 50.2 innings he has impressive ratio of 51 strikeouts to 12 walks and has allowed 52 hits.

"I think I have had a good year," said Hinton, standing outside of the Bowie clubhouse before a doubleheader on Aug. 14 against the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves — a farm team of the Tigers. "I had some soreness in my elbow and shoulder and that was hard to shake but I pitched through it without going on the disabled list. My job is come in and put zeroes up and keep the team in the game."

"Robert is a class act," said Gary Kendall, the Bowie manager who was also in Sarasota for spring training. "He is a competitor. He has given us so much. I hope it doesn't go unnoticed by the organization."

Hinton throws a fastball, slider and sinker and Kendall said his slider is better than average.

This has been an exciting month for the Orioles. The Major League team has been in playoff contention and on Sunday, Aug. 12, the team promoted infielder Manny Machado, a teammate with Hinton at Bowie this year, and the Miami-area product responded with three homers in less than a week with the team.

Then on Tuesday, Aug. 14 Dylan Bundy, the top pitching prospect in the Baltimore farm system, was promoted to Bowie from Class A Frederick (Md.) and he got the win in his first Eastern League start, against Erie. Bundy had also been in Sarasota for spring training in March with the Orioles.

The success of the bullpen of the Orioles has meant that it has been hard for relievers in the minors such as Hinton to move up the ladder this year.

"The relievers with Baltimore have been outstanding. Everyone who plays wants to move up. We will see what happens," said Hinton. The top farm club of the Orioles is the Class AAA Norfolk Tides, in Virginia.

The minor league season ends around Labor Day though Bowie is in the playoff hunt in the Eastern League. "We are in the race and that is exciting," Hinton said.

Hinton was born in Sarasota on Aug. 13, 1984, about one year after the Orioles last won the World Series.

He was drafted by Milwaukee out of in the 40th round in 2003 and signed with the Brewers just prior to the 2004 draft.

Hinton was a mid-season All-Star in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2005 and was a mid-season All-Star in the Class AA Southern League in 2009. The right-hander has pitched as high as the Class AAA level in 2010 and 2011 with Nashville while he was in the Milwaukee system.

Bill Castro, now the bullpen coach for the Orioles, is the former pitching coach for Milwaukee and he knew about Hinton from their days with the Brewers. Hinton had some other options but was glad to sign with Baltimore.

He plans to return home to Sarasota after the season and work out again with other pro players at , the alma mater of Washington All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond.

Hinton won't have far to go for Spring Training in 2013 as long as he stays with the Orioles.