Hayden Penn has been one of the young players that the Baltimore Orioles have choosen to send down to the minor leagues.  Penn was an option for the Orioles to keep around and pitch out of the bullpen but they would rather have him be a starting pitcher in the minor leagues right now and get his full innings.

Bob McCrory and Fredy Deza were also optioned to Triple-A Norfolk along with Penn.

The Baltimore Orioles will be without Troy Patton for the entire 2008 season as he will undergo season ending should surgery.  Patton came over to the Orioles as part of the Miguel Tejada trade in the offseason and had planned to really help out the Orioles in the future.  This is going to set him back atleast 12-16 months.

Andy MacPahil said it was a “high risk, high reward” deal when he wanted Patton to be included in the trade.  He says Patton is only 22 years old, and will come back from this injury and help out the team in the future.

Orioles Blog