Baltimore Orioles Sign Diablos Catcher Zane Chavez

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired a solid player to a minor league deal, according to Our Sports Central, purchasing the contract of catcher Zane Chavez from the El Paso Diablos of the American Association.

Chavez has spent a significant amount of time in Independent League ball, playing more than 200 games since 2009, yet 2012 was the first time since his rookie year that he had an extended number of at-bats. 

He spent time between the Grand Prairie AirHogs and El Paso Diablos, playing in 70 games. He legged out 23 doubles and drove in 51 runs. In 263 at-bats, Chavez batted .339 with a .373 OBP and .498 SLG. What  stands out is that Chavez has thrown out 56 of a potential 163 base stealers (34 percent) in his career. 

The Orioles have been very active this offseason signing players from Independent teams.

The American Association said the upstart Orioles have signed six players from their league, including Chavez and RHP Kyle Mertins, who was rated by Baseball America as the 19th-best independent prospect in its year-end review. The Orioles also signed Lincoln LHP David Quinowski, Fargo-Moorhead OF Buddy Sosnoskie, El Paso RHP Martin Prado and Amarillo RHP Chase Johnson.

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