During his three years as the Orioles’ manager, Brandon Hyde has seen his share of pitchers ride the so-called Norfolk Shuttle, moving back and forth between Triple-A and the majors. But on the position player side, Hyde’s time hadn’t yet included a prospect experiencing what Ryan McKenna has.
An outfielder Baseball America ranks 25th among Baltimore’s top prospects, McKenna, 24, was optioned to the minor leagues for the fifth time this season Tuesday. At the time, Hyde described it as a “tough decision,” saying that although McKenna’s numbers aren’t overly impressive, he likes the type of player he is and can be.