Is now the time? The Orioles could be looking at the rotation of the future ? finally.
Promising left-hander Adam Loewen, 22, and intimidating right-hander Daniel Cabrera, 25, have joined veteran Kris Benson, 31, and breakout left-hander Erik Bedard, 27, in the Orioles? rotation. With that foursome, the next question many fans will be asking is: Where does the fifth starter come from? Will it be 21-year-old right-hander Hayden Penn? The question comes on the heels of this week?s bullpen demotion of Rodrigo Lopez, previously a rotation mainstay. Lopez, 30, is signed through 2006.
While fans might plead for the addition of an established veteran, such as Oakland free-agent left-hander Barry Zito, the answer might already be in the Orioles? farm system. Penn, who is now at Triple-A Ottawa, is the closest in-house option. He was recalled from Ottawa on May 21 but was immediately placed on the 15-day disabled list with appendicitis before making a start in Baltimore. That forced the Orioles to recall Loewen from Bowie on May 22.
“Hayden Penn has a chance to be a solid No. 2 starter at least,” Orioles? director of minor league operations David Stockstill said from Chicago Thursday afternoon while navigating a busy travel day.
“Hayden was as ready as anyone I?ve ever seen to go to the majors when that appendicitis hit,” Stockstill continued. “His last outing, he pitched very well. We?ll see how he bounces back.”
According to Stockstill, building leg strength is key for Penn?s return to the majors.
“Its not a matter of just getting your arm strength back up,” Stockstill said.
Double-A Bowie holds a strong group of pitchers that could influence the back end of the Orioles? rotation and bullpen over the coming two seasons.
“We?re really proud about that group of arms,” Stockstill said. “We?ve got some outstanding prospects. They?re an outstanding group of starters. They?ve got a great work ethic.”
Bowie?s starting staff is enough to make the opponents cringe. With the addition of Radhames Liz and Garrett Olson to a staff that already included the Orioles? 2005 minor league pitcher of the year James Johnson, pitching coach Scott McGregor has a dream staff.
“Olson has a real good chance to be a really good starter in the big leagues,” Stockstill said. “I think he could go up and pitch middle relief in the big leagues today. But I think his future is better than that.”
In 2007, the 22-year-old Olson could follow the same path as Johnson, who got aspot start in Baltimore two weeks ago. He seems to be the next in line to be called up for an emergency start at the big league level.
Liz, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is the lesser polished of the trio, having played at short-season Aberdeen just last summer.
