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Baltimore Orioles: The Accolades Continue For Michael Baumann

By Chuck Boemmel

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 27: Fans hold up an American flag during a moment of silence for Memorial Day during the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 27, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 27: Fans hold up an American flag during a moment of silence for Memorial Day during the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 27, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitching prospect Michael Baumann continues to garner attention and awards for his pitching performance.

Michael Baumann, the Baltimore Orioles 2017 third-round draft pick and #9 ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is making quite a name for himself since being promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox in late June.

The 6’4″, 225 pound Baumann began the 2019 season in Advanced-A with the Frederick Keys where he produced a 1-4 record over 11 starts.  In 54.0 innings of work he pitched to a 3.83 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 24 walks and 77 strikeouts, while holding Carolina League batters to a .203 batting average.

Baumann was promoted to Bowie on June 21st and has thrived pitching in the Eastern League.  To date, he has a 4-2 record over 11 appearances (nine starts) with a 2.31 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.  He has allowed 19 walks while striking out 53; Eastern League hitters have been limited to a .187 batting average against the righty.  Amazingly, Baumann has not allowed a home run while pitching for the Baysox and in fact, only surrendered two home runs while pitching for the Keys.

Baumann’s recent performance has earned him both the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award for the week of 8/12-8/18 as well as the Baltimore Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Month Award for July.

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The Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award is a result of Baumann’s complete-game shutout of the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco affiliate) on August 14th.  In that game, Baumann faced 29 Richmond batters and needed 97 pitches (64 strikes) to complete the game.  He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven in the game.  Baumann’s complete-game shutout is one of twelve thrown in the league this season.

The Orioles MiLB Pitcher of the Month Award was the result of a month in which Baumann made 5 starts and produced a 2-1 record over 32.2 innings of work.  He pitched to a 1.38 ERA and 0.67 WHIP while striking out 31 and allowing just five extra-base hits (4 doubles and 1 triple).  His opponent’s slash line for the month was a minuscule .148/ .193/ .204.

Of the two no-decisions in July, one, July 27th against Binghamton (New York Mets affiliate), was a quality start which the bullpen lost in the 8th inning.  The other, July 21st against Altoona (Pittsburgh affiliate), fell one out short of being a quality start and again was lost by the bullpen.

Baumann was simply dominant during the month of July and he topped it off by throwing a complete game no-hitter on July 16th against Harrisburg (Washington affiliate).

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The move to Bowie seems to have brought out the best in Baumann and has put him on the map among Baltimore pitching prospects.  He should make two more starts for the Baysox before their season ends on September 2nd.  The team certainly hopes for more of the same from him as they are currently 2.0 games behind the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit affiliate) and in the hunt for the second-half championship and a place in the Eastern League playoffs.

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