06/26/2005 12:42 PM - On Saturday, T-Bone reliever Derek Forbes got the call he has been waiting for. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and will report to Class-A Delmarva of the South Atlantic League.

As the team's primary closer this season, Forbes recorded a team-high seven saves in eight chances and posted a team-best 1.32 ERA. Opponents batted .184 and only managed nine hits in his 13 2/3 innings pitched. The hard-throwing right hander punched out seventeen and walked seven.

Forbes leaves Kansas City after spending over a season with the T-Bones. Signed in 2004 after spending the previous season with Lincoln, Forbes went 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 20 games for the T-Bones. Forbes had been a fixture at closer ever since the departure of D.J. Johnson last August and currently leads the Northern League in Rolaids Relief Points.

Forbes was originally drafted in the 37th round of the 1999 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of South Mountain (Arizona) Junior College.

here to view Forbes' career stats.