Penn was placed on the disabled list on May 22 with appendicitis. “When I first went to the hospital, I did not know what it was,” Penn said. “Once I knew I was going to get surgery and be out for at least a month, I was disappointed.”

Penn said that there is no discomfort throwing because of the operation, but he just needs to get back to the point where he was in May.

“I have been throwing for two weeks,” Penn, a fifth-round pick in 2002, said.

Penn started for host Bowie on Sunday against the Harrisburg Senators. He was charged with a no-decision and gave up 2 earned runs in the short-lived rehab start. Bowie won, 10-7.

Joe Jordan, the Orioles? Director of Scouting, was in Bowie for Penn?s first rehab start. “We wanted him to get his work in and take step one to get him back to the big leagues,” Jordan said.

“He did not pitch all that well,” Jordan added. “He had good command of his fastball, but he did not command his secondary pitches.”

Jordan said that time and work would be all Penn needs to get back to the Orioles. “His arm looked good and he looked healthy,” Jordan said. “He needs to get out there a few more times and get control of his breaking stuff.”

Orioles? director of minor league operations David Stockstill said that Penn will pitch every five days during his minor league rehabilitation.

“How his arm progresses will tell us when he will come off rehab,” Stockstill said. Stockstill said that it was “highly probable” that Penn?s next start would come Friday in Ottawa against the Rochester Red Wings.

THE PENN FILE

Position: Right-handed pitcher

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 194 lbs.

Hometown: La Jolla, Ca.

Drafted: 2002 Fifth round by Baltimore Orioles

Did you know? Penn did not pitch for the Orioles this season, but in his brief stint in the majors in 2005 he was 3-2.