Orioles Hurler Waiting For The Wright Time
SARASOTA—Orioles pitcher Mike Wright can do the rotation math, but he isn’t consumed by the numbers.
Wright reported to spring training with the mindset that he can earn a starting job. It doesn’t matter that the Orioles signed Yovani Gallardo to a two-year deal with an option, inserting him into the spot vacated by lefthander Wei-Yin Chen.
“I’m pulling for everyone ahead of me,” Wright, who threw two scoreless innings against the Braves in the exhibition opener, said. “They’re all great guys, but there’s always things that happen.
“(Chris) Tillman didn’t throw. That’s not to say he won’t by the time the season starts, and I hope he does. I wouldn’t wish an injury on anyone. But if I just shut it down and stop competing, that’s not good for the team. The same with Tyler (Wilson) or anybody.
“There’s always spots available when somebody gets hurt or something happens, so I’m definitely approaching it the same way.”
Wright tossed 14 1/3 scoreless innings in his first two major league starts last summer before finishing 3-5, 6.04 in 12 appearances. He was 9-1, 2.22 in 15 games at Triple-A Norfolk.
“He came up and pitched lights-out the first time and had a pretty good outing the second time and then had some bumps,” manager Buck Showalter said. “The world’s full of that.”
The baseball industry has speculated that Wright could be converted into a reliever, but Showalter isn’t buying it.
“I’m viewing him as a starting pitching candidate for us,” Showalter said. “Those other things are down the road. That’s where all clubs, and especially us, where our needs are. Mike, he’s done some things statistically in Triple-A that some people haven’t done who are currently here that we’re thinking about, whether it’s a (Kevin) Gausman or whoever. Whatever you want to make of statistics, pretty good.”
BIRD SEED
• The Orioles signed pitcher Sam Deduno, 32, to a minor league contract. Deduno is 16-20, 4.38 in parts of six major league seasons with four teams.
• The Orioles also signed pitcher Nate Adcock, 28, to a minor league deal. Adcock is 2-6, 4.17 in 56 games in parts of four seasons.
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