masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe latest pitcher to join the Orioles’ bullpen is 26-year-old right-hander Preston Guilmet. He was acquired by the Orioles in a trade for minor leaguer Torsten Boss April 7 and today he was officially recalled.

“I’m excited to be with the club, really excited to have the opportunity,” he said. “This is awesome, it’s what we all try to do. To get the chance to help the Orioles, that is what we’re working for.

“Just excited to have an opportunity to help this club. I know it’s a great…The latest pitcher to join the Orioles’ bullpen is 26-year-old right-hander Preston Guilmet. He was acquired by the Orioles in a trade for minor leaguer Torsten Boss April 7 and today he was officially recalled.

“I’m excited to be with the club, really excited to have the opportunity,” he said. “This is awesome, it’s what we all try to do. To get the chance to help the Orioles, that is what we’re working for.

“Just excited to have an opportunity to help this club. I know it’s a great group of guys here. Great ballclub. Great opportunities.

“Coming up through the minors, I played against these guys a lot. So I knew a lot of the guys playing against them.”

Guilmet certainly has an impressive minor league resume with an 18-14 record and 2.57 ERA with 324 strikeouts over 297 2/3 innings coming into this season. In 2013, Guilmet posted a 1.68 ERA, 20 saves and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 49 games with Triple-A Columbus. His only major league experience came last season, when he allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings over four relief appearances with Cleveland.

Guilmet went 2-1 with a 5.65 ERA in 12 games for Triple-A Norfolk this year. Over 14 1/3 innings, he gave up 11 hits with four walks and 17 strikeouts.

If he could take away an outing on May 8 where he gave up six runs in one-third of an inning, his Norfolk ERA would be 1.93. He said he’s pleased with his year so far and provided a quick scouting report on himself.

“Yeah, I think so,” Guilmet said. “I had a rough outing a couple of nights ago. But that happened, just get back out there and keep going. (I feature) A three-pitch mix. Kind of throw from a higher arm slot. Usually just try to pound the zone and stay ahead.”