Let’s get this out of the way first: the Delmarva Shorebirds are not a team designed to win.
Granted, team wins aren’t exactly the primary goal of any minor league team. Helping young players learn and develop is always the number one priority. But that’s especially true of the Low-A affiliate, which for most Orioles prospects is their first taste of full-season professional baseball. Some players report here immediately after being drafted, others after stints in the short-season Florida Complex League or Dominican Summer League. All are as green as green can be.
So, yes, there are growing pains, as reflected in Delmarva’s combined 158-233 record the last three years.