The next stop for right-handed pitcher Kyle Bradish could be Camden Yards.
But first, Bradish has to show he can be effective at Triple-A Norfolk, where he was promoted on May 22nd after shining at Bowie.
“I think the Orioles have kind of proven this year that when you’re ready, and they think you’re ready, they’ll move you,” Bradish said. “There’s definitely a need to prove myself at Triple-A before anything happens.”
Bradish, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels along with three other young right-handers in exchange for Dylan Bundy in December 2019, made three starts with the Baysox in his first season above Single-A. He threw with 13 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits, five walks and struck out 26. Opponents batted .149 against him.
“He’s dominating, he’s the right age and we want to continue to challenge him and get him closer to the major leagues,” Orioles director of player development Matt Blood said. “I think all of his stuff is tough to hit. When we ask our hitters when they face him, they say he is one of the toughest guys they’ve ever faced.”
Bradish has gone 1-0 with 2.03 ERA in three starts for the Tides. He said there’s been a slight adjustment going from Double-A to Triple-A. On Sunday, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits, striking out eight and walking four at Durham.
“Talent-wise, it’s still the same,” Bradish said. “Hitters at this level have seen really good pitching before and they have a plan of what they’re going to do and they don’t deviate from that plan. In the lower levels, they see something and get away from that plan.”
Bradish focused on increasing the velocity on his fastball in the offseason. That means hitting the weight room and working closely with his coaches. His fastball has gone from 92-to-94 miles per hour to 96 per miles per hour.
He also throws a slider, changeup and curveball.
“I am really trying to work on everything,” Bradish said. “I am really trying to make them better than they already are. The changeup is kind of the main focus right now — just getting the consistent movement and being able to throw that one for strikes. That will help a lot with hitters staying off the fastball, as well as giving them another pitch to think about.”
Bradish has also worked on his command. He has 17 strikeouts and eight walks for the Tides this season.
“Command has always been an issue,” Bradish said. “At points, it’s been sporadic all the way back to college. Last year, I was really focused on throwing every pitch for strikes. And this year, I’ve had a couple of walks, but my command has been a lot better.”
Last year, Bradish participated in the Orioles’ alternate training site at Double-A Bowie because the minor-league season was canceled because of the pandemic. He’s expected to be added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster in the offseason.
“It’s been awesome,” Bradish said about the Orioles’ organization. “Being traded was a little weird at first, but ever since getting to the Orioles, they have been nothing but great. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen [with spring training] because of Covid. I ended up getting the chance to go out for the last couple of weeks. It was great being around the older guys, the big leaguers, getting to see how they worked and what it’s like in the upper levels.”
Bradish, who is the Orioles’ 12th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, is known for his calm demeanor on the mound. Bradish said that composure doesn’t take away from his competitive spirit.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t put any pressure on myself,” Bradish said. ”Pressure is a good thing to have out there on the mound, competing. I’ve been in big situations before and from my baseball career, I’ve learned to live with those. I came out on top of them in a calm manner.”
Bradish wants to be called up to the major league club this season. He appears to be on track for a promotion. Bradish is also willing to work in any role that helps the club.
“Whatever gets me in the big leagues and keeps me there,” Bradish said. “If that’s a bullpen spot, that’s what it is. I’ve been a starter the majority of my life, but I have come out of the bullpen a couple of times in college and a couple of times in [2019]. It would be a different experience, but I’d take it and run with it.”
Westburg stands out: Shortstop Jordan Westburg has been named the Orioles’ Minor League Offensive Player of the Month of May.
Westburg was promoted from Low-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen on June 1st.
In 20 May games with the Shorebirds, Westburg batted .366/.484/.592 with three home runs and 24 RBIs. Westburg also had five doubles and one triple with five stolen bases in six chances. Westburg helped lead Delmarva to a Low-A East league-best record of 17-6.
Westburg, the 30th overall pick by Orioles in the 2020 draft, hit a grand slam for his first career home run. He finished his time with Delmarva by going 4-for-6 in his final two games with a double and a triple plus six RBIs.
Knight wins Bowie debut: Blaine Knight earned the win in his first Double-A start as Bowie. The Baysox defeated the Hartford Yard Goats, 6-2, to extend their winning streak to eight games on Friday night. Knight allowed seven hits and two in six innings. He walked one and struck out six.
Knight was elected by the Orioles in the third round (No. 87 overall) of the 2018 draft. He entered the season ranked as the No. 22 Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America. He started the season in Aberdeen, where he went 0-1 with a 2.41 ERA, 16 strikeouts and four walks in four starts.
“Knight has pitched great so far this year and we want to challenge him and get him into Double-A,” Blood said.
Henderson impresses: Delmarva Shorebirds infielder Gunnar Henderson was named Low-A East League Player of the Month for May.
Henderson slashed .313/.391/.613 with a Low-A East league-leading 30 RBIs. He had three five-RBI games in 20 games in May. Henderson hit a two-run homer in his first Delmarva at-bat.
Henderson, a second-round pick (42nd overall) by the Orioles in the 2019 draft, finished the month of May ranking second in the Low-A East league in home runs, runs and total bases while finishing third in slugging percentage (.613).
Henderson ranks as the No. 93 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America and No. 99 per MLB Pipeline.
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The Dylan Bundy trade is looking real good. Almost like we fleeced the Angels. Bradish has been good and Brnovich who we also got in that trade is dominating in Aberdeen. He struck out thirteen yesterday. I guess we can add those guys to the group of pitchers that have improved with the analytics in this organization. I can’t remember the last time we had this much good pitching and we actually developed it.
It really is great to see.
The Orioles have the 5th pick in the Amateur Draft next month, a likely top 3-4 pick in next year's Amateur Draft and likely strong International Signing Classes this Fall and next.
Thinking that the overall talent level in this franchise will be at a very high level by next Thanksgiving...
Completely agree. Duquette didn’t really develop anyone other then Mountcastle. And in my opinion it was Elias that took him to the next step. We’ve had talent before but never did anything with it dating back to the Matusz and Arreita days.
Other than Mancini, Mullins, Santander, Stewart, Wilkerson, Wynns, McKenna, Akin, Zimmerman, Fry, Hunter Harvey, Scott, Tate, and Lowther, yes, Mountcastle is Duquette's only contribution to the Orioles current roster...
Thank you .... although I think in the long run I'd have Sisco in that last instead of Wynns, and Lowther wouldn't be in it at all.
Can't forget Grayson Rodriguez either
Completely agree except for Mancini and Mountcastle a bunch of 4a players . Duquette drafted Mullins promoted him to early exposed him to Adam Jones and Chris Davis you remember Jones quote tee it high and let it fly . The next year he couldn’t hit his weight went down to Bowie and in combination with Elias staff and hard work made himself into what he is. Santander is much the same Buck never played him even when healthy much less developed him .
The facts speak for themselves the O’s are finally getting talent and develop that talent.
Elias seems to have more authority than Duquette I doubt he could have gotten permission to deal Bundy for 4 pitching prospects .
Bradish has been a real steal for the Os. We added another arm possibly in the caliber of Rodriguez and Hall. Brnovich had 13 strikeouts yesterday. Both pitchers look promising. Peek looks good too, and Mattson has already debuted (without much success) in the majors. The talent in the org is growing rapidly. Prob after this seasons trades in next couple of months for more prospects, #5 in draft, more international signings, prob top five pick again next year. Os system will be even more stacked. Worried they’re going to be heavily targeted in the rule 5 draft but Elias can pay the favor back by plucking guys out like wells from other teams. Going to start to get interesting pretty soon as our top pitchers make it to the majors.
Seems like it has been a veryyyyy long time since the Orioles had this many talented young players in the system.
Elias and his team have begun turning the ship around fairly quickly.
Define quickly ...
Someone asked for define quickly - Try two drafts with one being only 5 rounds and trades he has made and the new overseas signings. Minor Leagues seemed to be in the high to mid 20's every year in rankings and now under Mike Elias, Minor Leagues are top 5 and climbing which has never been done also! All that with hiring of new coaching staff and overseas personnel.
So we'll be winners in 23? 24? 25? I didn't ask what he's done. I asked what quickly means ... specifically in regards to the mother club. When will the orioles win a division ... an pennant maybe? It's into his 3 year already, so another 2 would make it 5 ... or half a decade. Is that considered quickly?
In Mikey we trust!!!!
2nd draft, 5 rds, any team could sign any FA after the 5th rd for a maximum of $20,000, shake the trees...go O’s...
Watch it, we don’t want to just argue, legit questions aside...LMAO...go O’s...
Nice to see Rutschman doing well, too. Pretty sure he went 5 for 8 with 2 homers this weekend. Looks like 8 HR and 22 RBI for the season and sports a .292/.450/.586 slash.
Lots of good stuff simmering in the minors....
I'll be happier when they're simmering in baltimore.
This is looking like a brilliant trade by Elias … Bundy (0-6, 6.49 ERA) unloaded for several outstanding pitching prospects.
And Gausman has 7 wins with a 1.27 era so far this season.
And that’s baseball.
Gausman was traded away by Dan Duquette not by Mike Elias.
Gotcha.
My Bundy/Gausman comparison was just to show how they’ve ended up to this point once departing Bawlamer.
Just interesting to see.
Very interesting, that’s exactly how some took it...go O’s...
Agreed Birdman ... it does look like a very one sided trade by Elias. But "brilliant"? Don't get me wrong, but as good as this trade appears right now, I'd reserve "brillant" for trades like that of Milt Pappas for Frank Robinson.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am excited about the quantity as well as the quality that I’m seeing in the minors this season however, having said that, one thing Buck always said and is SO true, the biggest adjustments any athletes in any sports have to make to be successful is from the minors to the majors in professional baseball. Between AR, Rodriguez, Hall, Bradish, Westburg, Henderson and many others, it would be considered outstanding if 4 or 5 of them are regular contributors, and maybe 2 or 3 of them are stars by about 2023 or 2024. That’s simply how challenging it is. Believe me, I want as much as any of us for them to be the next group of guys who bring championships back to Baltimore, but it’ll be a long uphill climb to get there.
Good point about the difficulty of the transition from the minors to MLB ... that said, the Orioles seem to have developed a core of talented everyday players - Mullins, Santander, Mountcastle, Mancini (and possibly Hayes and/or Stewart) - if they can add Rutschman and one or two other quality players from the minors to that mix, they should have a very competitive everyday lineup ... the biggest challenge will be on the pitching side, but that also looks encouraging with Bradish, Rodriguez, Hall, and others coming along.
That’s true, Mr Gruber. We always temper our enthusiasm with reality. I am very hopeful and excited, but I realize I’m guilty of wearing my orange colored glasses at times too.
Not many guys simply waltz through the minors and have easy success in the big leagues.
A long uphill climb, indeed.
Grow arms, buy bats
Shamus, while I agree with your premise, the sad reality is the O’s have gone, in my lifetime, from being the envy of all MLB for their starting pitching to arguably the least successful team in all MLB in developing starting pitching for the last 3 DECADES. You have to go back to Mussina OVER 30 years ago as the last truly great starter they’ve developed. I truly hope GR and maybe even Hall will break that streak but that remains to be seen. While during the same time they have bought many good hitters in in Palmeiro, Alomar, Surhoff, Tejada and yes CD, along with many others. So again I say, while I agree with the premise, it just hasn’t been close to the reality. Fingers crossed now tho.
Is there a site for the various O's farm teams? Anybody?
Milb.com Once on the site you can bring up info on each farm team