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Manny Machado a former FPBL player & All-star got the call to the Bigs last night and will probably makes his debut tonight against the Royals.......Manny is the first player ever to make it to the Bigs. Machado was on the first class of when the league was formed with just 7 teams back in '03. Machado was Coached by his uncle Brito and play mostly with the Hialeah Chiefs among other teams, that Included the Miami Whitesox and Broward Canes.

Congratulations to Manny & Rosa his mother.........we are extremely Happy for you !!


                                           

BALTIMORE -- The Manny Era has begun.

The Orioles announced plans on Wednesday night to select the contract of Manny Machado, their No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com, from Double-A Bowie prior to Thursday's game, a move that bolsters Baltimore's infield and supports the organization's stance that it is committed to winning in 2012.

"The guy's got a lot of talent, and we feel like he can help," executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said of Machado, considered a top young shortstop and one of the best prospects in all of baseball.

"Manny should be a plus-defender, wherever we play him. He's a five-tool player, and he can help our team. I think he improves our team, and it's important here [for this club] to be strong."

Machado has played mostly shortstop at the Double-A level, but he's expected to be used at third base with the O's given shortstop J.J. Hardy's stellar play. He has played two career games at third base, but the Orioles' brass feels he's capable of handling another position and help a Baltimore club -- which enters Thursday in a three-way tie for the American League Wild Card lead -- make a playoff push.

"When you have the player with this kind of talent, he's a natural," Duquette said of Machado, who was named the Eastern League Player of the Week after going 10-for-21, including hitting for the cycle on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Machado has drawn comparisons to Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez -- whom he works out with in the offseason -- and has a .263 batting average, a .343 on-base percentage and a .428 slugging percentage in three Minor League seasons.

Machado, the third overall pick in the 2010 Draft, has played 203 games at shortstop, three at designated hitter and two at third base, posting a career .955 fielding percentage.

Following the Orioles' 9-2 win Wednesday night, manager Buck Showalter made it clear the club will do whatever possible to stay in the postseason race.

"If we can do something that makes us two inches better to have a chance to win the last 49 games, we're going to do it," Showalter said.