Gary Kendall on the O's minor leaguers in the AFL, via MASN Sports Steve Melewski:

"Probably the greatest thing about that championship was the Orioles made a statement that day," Kendall said. "Not just with Eduardo Rodriguez. You saw Tim Berry with his back against the wall. You saw Jon Schoop turn on a good fastball and pull it in the hole. We saw Urrutia dead center a ball 410 feet, and then hit another double 380, 390 to right center. It was just a great day for the organization."

The Keys won the Carolina League in 2007. The Baysox won their division in 2008 but lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Keys won the league again in 2010 with Manny and Schoop as integral parts of that team. Prior to September 28, 2011, those were the highlights of the minor league system; and in some ways, the major league team. It may make the AFL Championship seem insignificant but with ERod, Berry, and Urritia poised to make an impact on the major league level in the next couple of years, this could be something we look back at fondly.

Orioles Observer