Orioles’ Moises Chace Dials In His Pitch Mix
The Orioles have so many top hitting prospects concentrated in the upper minors that young pitchers are afforded a spotlight to step into at the lower levels.
In the early portion of the season, High-A Aberdeen righthander Moises Chace had done just that in his age-21 season.
The Venezuelan struck out nine in his season debut on April 9 against Wilmington—and kept up that pace. Four of his first six appearances were scoreless, and he carried a 1.23 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 31 strikeouts through 22 innings.
“His execution and consistency overall is what’s taken him to the next level this year,” Aberdeen pitching coach Jordie Henry said. “Particularly in spring training . . . he was probably in the handful of guys who was most consistent in minor league camp and super dialed on his entire mix.”
Chace has long been a popular arm internally for the Orioles thanks to his hoppy low-to-mid-90s fastball, but inconsistent command limited his effectiveness the last two years at Low-A Delmarva.
Henry said Chace was up to 97 mph in spring training, though the colder weather in the South Atlantic League kept him in the 92-95 range early.
Chace complements his fastball with a mid-80s changeup and slider, with the consistency on the former creating a significant weapon against lefthanded hitters. But like many young pitchers, it comes down to command.
Chace walked 6.7 batters per nine innings in two seasons at Delmarva, but in Henry’s eyes, “he definitely has the maturity level of a guy who has been in pro ball for two-plus years now.”
While he’s striving for consistency against the most advanced competition he has yet faced, Chace’s start to the season—even the start in which he issued six of his 14 walks—provide the Orioles with perspective on his talent.
“Even when he does have those hiccups, knowing that we already know his ceiling at this level is really, really exciting,” Henry said.
BIRD SEED
— Outfielder Colton Cowser, the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect entering the season, won the American League rookie of the month award for April after batting .303 with a 1.004 OPS and six home runs.
— At Triple-A Norfolk, outfielder Heston Kjerstad won player of the month for the International League. He hit .349 with a 1.175 OPS and 10 home runs before his April 23 callup.
— Lefthander Cade Povich won IL pitcher of the month with a 1.03 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 26.1 innings in April.
