Garrett Stallings Reunites With Childhood Team
The Orioles scouted righthander Garrett Stallings while he was the Friday night starter at Tennessee. The 23-year-old was on their radar long before he joined the organization.
Stallings followed the Orioles as a kid living in Virginia, attending games at Triple-A Norfolk and Camden Yards. His interest dates back even further.
The pairing made sense on many levels and finally came to fruition when the Orioles traded shortstop Jose Iglesias to the Angels on Dec. 2 for Stallings and 19-year-old Venezuelan righthander Jean Pinto.
“I was very excited when I was informed I was going to Baltimore,” Stallings said. “I played a few games there in high school. Being a little kid, I couldn’t believe how fast those pitchers were throwing. Getting a chance to play there myself would be a dream come true.
“I think I was around 7 or 8 and went with my brother, mom and some friends. I’ve even got a picture of it, me in my Orioles shirt. Me and my brother had a uniform on. I think it was a cool experience now that I’m with the Orioles, being my first experience and seeing the game at the highest level.”
The Angels drafted Stallings in the fifth round in 2019. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righty hasn’t stepped on a mound as a professional after going 8-5, 3.33 with 16 walks and 106 strikeouts in 102.2 innings as a junior, but the Orioles did their homework on him.
They didn’t need to see any more games before seeking him in a trade. And the Angels were the right fit for Iglesias with their vacancy at shortstop.
“We were impressed with (Stallings) then,” Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said, “and while he has not officially played professional baseball because he was shut down after throwing 100 innings at Tennessee—which the Angels do with their draft picks—we got to scout him in person and also video and data this year through (the Angels’) instructional league.”
“I think it’s another great starting pitching prospect to add to what’s becoming a very impressive stack up in our system.”
BIRD SEED
— The Orioles made two selections in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft, both righthanders.
Baltimore drafted Mac Sceroler from the Reds organization with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 draft. Sceroler, a nephew of former Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 26 games (20 starts) at High-A Daytona in 2019 and averaged 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Righthander Tyler Wells was selected from the Twins system in the second round of the Rule 5 draft. He reached Double-A in 2018 but missed all of 2019 after having Tommy John surgery. He has recorded a 2.82 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 50 games (46 starts) for his career while striking out 288 batters in 255.2 innings.
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