masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWhen he got added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster in November, you had to figure Mike Wright’s chance to pitch in the big leagues would come at some point during this 2015 season.
Well, the time is now.
Ranked as the club’s No. 8 propsect according to Baseball America, Wright got his first call to the major leagues today. It comes a day after he was scheduled to start for Triple-A Norfolk but was scratched.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s really exciting. It is what I’ve dreamed of my…

When he got added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster in November, you had to figure Mike Wright’s chance to pitch in the big leagues would come at some point during this 2015 season.

Well, the time is now.

Baseballs generic.jpgRanked as the club’s No. 8 propsect according to Baseball America, Wright got his first call to the major leagues today. It comes a day after he was scheduled to start for Triple-A Norfolk but was scratched.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s really exciting. It is what I’ve dreamed of my whole life. To have this chance is amazing.

“Yeah, it was right before I was going out to stretch (yesterday). They told me I was banged from my start. But there was a still a possibility that I wasn’t going to go anywhere, but then they told me to just drive up here.”

Drafted in the third round out of East Carolina in 2011, the 25-year-old Wright won the Jim Palmer award in 2013 as the Orioles minor league Pitcher of the Year.

Wright had a strong finish to his 2014 Triple-A season. He pitched to 0.95 ERA over his last seven starts. In his last four starts, he gave up one earned run in 29 2/3 innings for an ERA of 0.30.

Then he carried that into this season with Norfolk. As of his call-up today, he is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in six starts. In 30 2/3 innings, he gave up 25 hits with nine walks, 30 strikeouts and a .227 average against.

“I was just trying to ride the mentality I had at the end of last season,” he said. I tried to use that through spring training and at the beginning of the season this year.”

Wright throws a fastball that can touch the mid 90s with good sink, along with a slider, curve and changeup. The Orioles believe his fastball could play up a tick or two velocity-wise when he pitches out of the bullpen.

As for pitching in a bullpen role, Wright is ready for that after making 87 of his 91 pro appearance as a starting pitcher.

“It’s exciting. I’m here. It doesn’t matter where I am pitching from,” Wright said. “I pitched for two years out of the bullpen in college. So, hopefully it will be like riding a bike. In spring training I have pitched out of the bullpen.”

As he gets set to make his major league debut, Wright was asked if he expects to have some butterflies when he takes the mound for the first time in the majors.

“Think it is expected. I don’t get too nervous on a baseball field ever, but I’ve also never been in the big leagues, so,” he said with a laugh.