Three-Pitch Mix Helps Orioles’ Michael Forret Stand Out
The Orioles are an ascendant pitching development organization, and 20-year-old righthander Michael Forret is proving to be one of the team’s most dynamic young arms.
Drafted in the 14th round last year out of junior college, Forret joined High-A Aberdeen in early June after showcasing an advanced mix of stuff and athleticism at Low-A Delmarva.
“What it really came down to is just that he’s holding velo, he’s punching guys out, he’s limiting walks and he’s limiting hard contact,” Delmarva pitching coach Andy Sadoski said.
Forret is the youngest Orioles pitcher in the full-season minor leagues and has also been among their most successful.
He struck out 49 in 39.2 innings over 10 appearances at Delmarva with a 1.13 WHIP before advancing to Aberdeen. He struggled some in his first High-A outing but struck out 22 in 14.1 innings over his next four starts, allowing three earned runs on four six and 10 walks.
Forret was one of just nine minor league pitchers age 20 or younger to strike out at least 30% of batters while pitching at least 50 innings.
Forret’s success comes thanks to a hoppy fastball that sits in the mid 90s with consistent shape and good carry, and he backs the pitch with a set of secondaries that can be weapons to both sides.
He’s comfortable using his mid-80s sweeper to righties and lefties, and he will bury a slower curveball later in counts. A separator has been the bat-missing changeup he honed at Tread Athletics last offseason. He has developed fade and depth on the pitch.
“It’s just swing-and-miss stuff to both righties and lefties, and when he’s crisp, when he’s consistent, it’ll be five perfect innings with eight punchouts,” Sadoski said.
“He can just go out there and dominate when he’s on.”
