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Orioles Minor League Rundown: Pitchers are shining

By Hunter Firestone

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With the way the Orioles have been playing this season, the team wins when the pitching is great. And even when Orioles are hitting well, great pitching only helps the team in the end. Down in the Minor Leagues, the story is no different. Great pitching will win ballgames, even if the offense is not as up-to-par as the defense might be on a team.

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    • In the Orioles Minor League system, there a a number a pitchers that are shining in the spotlight, even with the departure of triple-A pitcher Zach Davies to the Milwaukee Brewers. Here are a few pitchers in the organization making a name for themselves, and names that Orioles fans should start getting used to.

    RHP Oliver Drake, Norfolk Tides (triple-A)

    Oliver Drake has been having a very decent season in Norfolk, sporting a 0.58 ERA so far this season with the Tides. Drake was the Baltimores’ 43rd round pick in the 2008 draft, and has spent his entire career in the O’s organization. The right handed closer has risen and fallen through the organization since 2008, even had a brief stint on the Orioles roster, which he pitched with a 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched.

    Currently this season, Drake has pitched in 31 innings, with 16 saves on the year. His ERA, which sits at 0.58, is very fascinating to see. If he continues to pitch as well as he has this season, we just might see the right hander pitching at Camden Yards very soon.

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    RHP Terry Doyle, Bowie Baysox (double-A)

    Terry Doyle is currently in his first season in the O’s Minor League system, and has started his Baltimore career with a bang. The right hander is 12-1 on the season, with a very impressive 1.97 ERA. Doyle was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 37th round of the 2008 draft. The 29 year old was acquired by the Orioles prior to the start of this season, and has been making his name for himself in the organization.

    With the way that Doyle is pitching, it will be highly likely that he will get called up at some point, whether its this season or in the up-coming offseason. With Norfolk sending both SP’s Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson to the Orioles, look to see if the team sends up Doyle to Norfolk, who are looking for pitching help with those departures.

    LHP John Means, Delmarva Shorebirds (low single-A)

    John Means started off his 2015 campaign with the Shorebirds a little rocky, but has bounced back nicely. The left hander is currently 8-7 on the year, with a 3.48 ERA. I have had the honor of watching Means pitch live four times this season, and had the privilege of watching him throw a no-hitter on Friday night.

    Means through a seven inning no-hitter on Friday night, throwing 78 pitches, six strikeouts, and only allowing one walk. Great start from the 22 year old, who was the Orioles’ 11th round pick in the 2014 draft.

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