Orioles call up prospect Machado

Aug 9, 2012 - 9:59 PM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of 20-year-old infielder Manny Machado from Double-A Bowie on Thursday.

Machado, the third overall pick of the 2010 first-year player draft, hit .266 with 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 109 games with the Baysox this season. Recently Machado has been hot, hitting .275 with a .505 slugging percentage since the All-Star break.

The infielder becomes the first Oriole to make his major league debut before his 21st birthday since pitch Hayden Penn in 2005 and the first position player to do so since outfielder Eugene Kingsdale in 1996.

Machado, who has played shortstop in 203 of his 208 minor league games, will play third base for just the third time in his professional career when he makes his Baltimore debut. He is expected to hit ninth.

The Orioles optioned pitcher Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Machado on the 25-man roster and transferred Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list to free up space on the 40-man roster.