BALTIMORE—On Saturday, DL Hall will start for the first time at Camden Yards. It won’t be for the Orioles, who made him their first-round draft pick in 2017. Instead, it will be for the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded for Hall and infielder Joey Ortiz when they sent Corbin Burnes to the Orioles. Burnes will start on Sunday.
Hall started only once for the Orioles, on August 13th, 2022 at Tampa Bay. Until this year, he had pitched only in relief with the Orioles. He’s started two games with the Brewers and has an 0-1 record and 4.82 earned-run average.
He’d never dressed in the visitor’s clubhouse, and it took some getting used to.
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“Definitely a little weird, for sure,” Hall said. “I was walking in here today, didn’t even know where to go. I didn’t know how to get to the visiting side. A weird feeling, but awesome, super excited, obviously.”
Hall was hoping to get a full-time role with the Orioles, and he was taken aback when he found out he’d been traded.
“I feel like that’s anybody. I didn’t have any idea,” Hall said. “It was a big shock. For the first 24 hours, tough thinking about the guys you came up with. Once I got here, it’s an unbelievable group, an unbelievable clubhouse. It’s awesome. Definitely made it a little easier.
“After the first day, you realize it’s an awesome opportunity for Joey and myself. I’m happy to play anywhere. We get to play a kid’s game for a job, so I’m happy wherever I’m at.”
Hall has always wanted to be a starter, but years of injuries convinced the Orioles to try him in relief.
“Not just the fact of being a starter. It’s been a long road for me with injury and jumping back and forth in the bullpen,” Hall said. “To see that come to fruition, and get back starting, it’s a great feeling.”
This was the first time Hall began the season with a major league team, and now he’s back in a starter’s routine.
“They assured me from the start, they have great faith in me,” Hall said. “They’ve made me super comfortable. It’s nice to be able to know I get to work and go out there every fifth day and try and prove myself.”
Hall’s buddy, Grayson Rodriguez, wouldn’t mind getting one shot at hitting against Hall, but since pitchers don’t’ normally bat, that’s not going to happen.
“He’s already let me know he’s trying to get into the lineup,” Hall said. “I don’t think it’s going to work out, but I don’t think it will work out for him, either.”