Orioles Friday morning odds and ends

By By Eduardo A. Encina

| The Baltimore Sun |

Jan 11, 2013 | 4:30 AM

With FanFest just around the corner next Saturday, the Orioles caravan will make four visits across the state that will include appearances by Orioles team representatives and players.

On Wednesday, pitchers Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman will visit the William Talle Recreation Center in Frederick to meet children in the Frederick Police Athletic League and Boys and the Girls Club from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Pitchers Chris Tillman and Zach Britton will appear on Thursday at the JC Penney concourse of the Westfield Annapolis Mall from 6 to 8 p.m. They will sign autographs, take photos with fans and take part in a Q-and-A session.

Both of those events are free to the public.

Also on Thursday, Orioles manager Buck Showalter and closer Jim Johnson will attend the Aberdeen Ironbirds Hot Stove Dinner at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen from 6 to 9 p.m. Showalter will be the event’s keynote speaker. Tickers are $40 and can be purchased through the Ironbirds team website.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette will serve as keynote speakers at the Delmarva Shorebirds Hot Stove Dinner at the Delmar VFW on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tickets for that event are $33 and are available through the Shorebirds team website.

-- Several players in the Orioles organization are coming off productive winter ball seasons, including newcomer second baseman Alexi Casilla, who hit .289/.349/.428 with 14 extra-base hits (9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers), 11 RBI and seven stolen bases in 37 games for the Cibao Gigantes of the Dominican Winter League.

Among minor leaguers, infielder Zelous Wheeler dominated the Mexican League, hitting .328/.425/.537 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs in 63 games with the Guasave Algodoneros. Catcher Michael Ohlman spent his winter in Australia, hitting .325/.378/.561 in 32 games with the Perth Heat and reliever Sean Gleason was 2-1 with 12 saves and a 3.81 ERA in 26 relief innings with Guasave.

-- Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will attend the YMCA of Central Maryland’s “A Moment to Greatness” tribute breakfast to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, January 18 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Weinberg Family Center YMCA at the former site of Memorial Stadium on 33^rd Street in Baltimore. The event will benefit YMCA youth programs in Baltimore. Tickets for that even can be purchased at www.ymaryland.org.

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