Brandon Erbe cannot believe his good fortune.
Born in Baltimore and raised in Arbutus and Reisterstown, the 18-year-old McDonogh graduate is the youngest player on the roster of Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, a full-season minor-league team of the Baltimore Orioles in Salisbury.
As a youngster, Erbe was at Camden Yards for Cal Ripken?s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game and for Eddie Murray?s 500th career home run.
“It?s unbelievable. Everywhere I am playing, I am within driving distance of my house. I just feel comfortable wherever we go,” said Erbe, sitting at his locker in the Shorebirds? clubhouse.
And the Orioles certainly feel comfortable with Erbe, a right-handed starting pitcher with a fastball that has been clocked in the mid-90s.
Said David Stockstill, the director of minor league operations for the Orioles: “He has exceeded everyone?s expectations so far. We really think highly of Brandon. He has a very good fast ball, a nice slider and changeup.”
Delmarva manager Gary Kendall, a graduate of Sparrows Point, has also noticed Erbe?s above-average fastball.
“He is definitely a power pitcher,” added Delmarva catcher Brandon Snyder, the No. 1 draft pick of the Orioles in 2005 and Erbe?s roommate on road trips.
Erbe is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.61 in nine games, with eight starts. In 38 innings he allowed 31 hits with just 10 walks and 44 strikeouts.
“I am very happy with my progress,” Erbe said.
Taken in the third round by the Orioles in the 2005 first-year player draft, he made his pro debut at Bluefield in the rookie Appalachian League and was 1-1 with an ERA of 3.09 in 11 games. Erbe was named the fourth-best prospect in the Appalachian League, according to Baseball America.
He was then sent to Aberdeen in the Single-A New York-Penn League. With the IronBirds, he was 1-1 with an ERA of 7.71 in three games over just 7 innings, with one start.
The Orioles have not had a winning record since 1997. And as a hometown prospect, does that put more pressure for Erbe to make a quick climb to the big league club?
“I am not sure if it puts any added pressure. Everyone wants to get there,” Erbe said.
THE ERBE FILE
Team: Delmarva Shorebirds
Position: Pitcher
Height/weight: 6-4/180
Born: Dec. 25, 1987
High school: McDonogh
Did you know? Erbe was supposed to start last week in a South Atlantic League game at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies. But the game against Lakewood (NJ) was rained out … Erbe was signed by scout Ty Brown, whose father was a general manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970s … While with Bluefield last year, opponents hit just .105 against Erbe.
