Parker Bridwell talks about facing the Orioles tonight

ANAHEIM, Calif. - He was selected by the Orioles in the ninth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of a Texas high school. He pitched at every level of their farm system, going 31-43 with an ERA of 4.71. He was ranked among the O's top 25 prospects not once or twice, but seven times.

After all that time logged on the Orioles farm working to make the major leagues, right-handed pitcher Parker Bridwell is finally enjoying major league success. But not for the Orioles, but rather the Angels. Tonight, he will pitch against the Orioles in the second game of a three-game series at Angels Stadium.

Bridwell made a brief major league debut last season for the Orioles, but gave up five runs over 3 1/3 innging over two August games. He began this season at Triple-A Norfolk but allowed eight runs in four innings in two early April games. Then April 17, he was traded to the Angels for cash considerations.

"My first thought was 'Oh no,' " Bridwell honestly admits of the day he was traded. "I had never been through anything like that and didn't know what to expect. But a new door opened."

It did, and he ran right through it. In 10 games (nine starts) with the Angels, he is 5-1 with a 3.20 ERA. He went 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in July. His ERA his last five starts is 2.56. Los Angeles is 8-1 when Bridwell makes a start.

"It doesn't surprise anybody," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said yesterday. "We liked him. It is like Oliver Drake or whoever. I'm happy for him. If it doesn't work out for you, I want them to go and do well somewhere else. Life is too short. He always had a big league presentation. This is a good spot for him."

Over 59 innings, Bridwell has allowed 57 hits with 16 walks, 38 strikeouts and a .259 average against.

"I'm just trying to live in the moment," he said about his success with the Angels. "I can't really explain it. It's the big leagues and I'm going to enjoy it while I'm here. Have just put in a lot of work and I got a fresh start here, a clean slate. I didn't want to come in here and fail.

"Getting up there (to the majors) for those five days last year really helped me this year. Knowing what to expect and the feelings I would feel. It is all a learning experience. Every time I go out, I learn something I can do better."

Tonight the kid that wore the orange and black all those years will pitch against the organization he was with for parts of eight seasons.

"If is definitely going to be different," he said. "Everybody on that team I know very well. But it's baseball. Tomorrow I could be on a new team. If anything, there could be some motivation.

"No hard feelings at all. They treated me and my family well. I can't say enough nice things about them. Everyone in that organization is a class act. But I'm trying to take advantage of this opportunity here. I'm looking forward to competing against them."

Bridwell is not interested in spending any time wondering if the Orioles should have taken a longer look at him.

"I don't know, I don't care," he said. "I'm in a better place now, well better for me. That is just the way it is. I can't control what happened. What I can control I will do my best to make good."

He was asked if it will hard to concentrate facing players he knows on the Orioles tonight.

"It will be easier. I'll be a lot more focused," he said.