Baltimore Orioles Sign Omar Bencomo To Minor League Deal

The Baltimore Orioles have added more depth to their minor league pitching staff.

With so little action at the major league level, the cold days of January have been largely been spent perusing the minor league transaction wire. For someone like myself who spends most of the summer at minor league ballparks, these signings are fun to look at. Most are nothing more than roster filler, someone has to pitch for the Norfolk Tides, but many of these signings bring something with them that the organization likes. So, what do the Baltimore Orioles see in recently signed RHP Omar Bencomo?

Bencomo is a 6’1″ right-handed pitcher out of Venezuela who originally signed with the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2007. Since then, he has bounced around between the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins, pitching at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels in each of the past three seasons.

The 29-year-old went 9-6 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 133 innings for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts and AAA Rochester Red Wings (Twins affiliates). He struck out 112 hitters while walking just 19. His ability to limit walks has been prevalent throughout his minor league career. In 598 career minor-league innings, Bencomo has issued just 105 hitters, while striking out 481.

https://twitter.com/ChattLookouts/status/990697085568782337

Bencomo has spent the offseason in his home country of Venezuela, playing in the Venezuelan winter league. In 9 starts, Bencomo went 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA. He recorded a 17/5 K/BB ratio against right-handed hitters, who hit .225 against him, compared to a 12/10 K/BB ratio and .270 BAA versus left-handed pitching.

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Unfortunately, Bencomo was suspended for violating the league’s anti-doping policies and suspended by the Venezuelan winter league. His final outing came in late-November and he was not allowed to participate in the postseason. Oddly enough, he still received five votes for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Per Brooks Baseball, Bencomo brings with him a four-seam fastball (91 mph), slider, and changeup. While he has done a decent job of keeping the ball in the ballpark, he isn’t much of a groundball pitcher and his 90 mph four-seamer could be easy-pickings for AL East hitters. However, this is strictly a depth signing who will likely slot in as a reliever for the AAA Tides, where he should have success in pitcher-friendly Harbor Park.

Bencomo pitched for Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classis, making three appearances (one start) and finishing with a 4.91 ERA (four earned runs on nine hits) and 1.77 WHIP.

So, anyone going to FanFest next Saturday?