The Orioles told top prospect Matt Wieters on Thursday that he will be reassigned to the Triple-A Norfolk roster effective Monday.
Manager Dave Trembley met with Wieters after Thursday's exhibition loss to the Florida Marlins and informed him of the club's plans, but the assignment is not yet official. Wieters will remain with the team over the weekend and is scheduled to accompany the Orioles to Jupiter for Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
"It's fun up here," he said. "It's fun wherever you are, but it's even more fun up here. I'm excited to be playing in Norfolk. It's a different level of competition for me. I just want to go there and work hard and get back as soon as possible."
Wieters needs to stay in the minors for the first 12 days of the regular season to keep the free-agent clock ticking for an extra year, but team officials have indicated he'll probably play at Norfolk for a month or two.
Many have considered Wieters the best player in Baltimore's camp this spring.
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