Garrett Olson has grown accustomed to living far from his California home.
In college he pitched in the Alaskan League with the Anchorage Bucs. Now he finds himself 3,000 miles from home, throwing in Frederick for the Single-A Keys.
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As he stood outside of the clubhouse in his orange warm-up T-shirt and semi-scuffed white pants, the 6-foot-1 Olson rambled off a list of outdoor activities that make him feel at home.
“I enjoy kayaking, I like to go to the ocean and I love to go fishing,” he said.
Brought up from Aberdeen in August of last year, Olson contributed 10 scoreless playoff innings in a late-season run that helped lead the Keys to the Carolina League championship.
This season he is 4-4 with a 3.07 ERA. Manager Bien Figueroa said Olson is one of the more focused players he has seen.
“This is one of the best kids you?ll ever meet. He?s very quiet, very professional and knows what he is doing,” he said. “He works harder than anybody here.”
Olson has an unusual delivery.
“After he throws the ball he takes a couple of steps back while closing his eyes,” catcher Brian Bock said of Olson.
Olson said he understands the tradition that comes from wearing an Orioles jersey. He was listed as the eighth-best prospect in the Orioles system and fourth-best pitching prospect prior to this season, according to Baseball America.
“The one thing he has is his professionalism,” said Orioles Director of Player Development Dave Stockstill, in the “way he goes about his business in his workouts, the way he goes about his business on the mound and the way he goes about his business preparing for hitters.”
Olson wants to make the Orioles proud, and one daywants to play at Camden Yards.
“They (the Orioles) know what I need to do to get done, and I know what I need to do to get done,” he said. “I feel this is a good fit for me. Hopefully I can do a lot as far as helping the organization.”
THE OLSON FILE
Position: Left-handed Pitcher
Organization: Orioles
Did you know? Olson was selected between the first and second round of last year?s MLB player draft, a “sandwich pick” as compensation for the O?s not signing last year?s first-round choice, pitcher Wade Townsend ? In Aberdeen last year Olson went 2-1 in 11 appearances with a 1.58 ERA.
