Orion Kerkering Explained

Orion Kerkering
Team:Philadelphia Phillies
Number:50
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:4 April 2001
Birth Place:Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 24
Debutyear:2023
Debutteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:August 8, 2024
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:3–2
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:2.51
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:53
Teams:

Richard Orion Kerkering (;[1] born April 4, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

Kerkering attended Venice High School and the University of South Florida, where he played college baseball for the South Florida Bulls for three seasons. He began his junior season as a starting pitcher before becoming the Bulls' closer. Kerkering made 19 appearances with 10 starts and went 5–7 with three saves and a 5.72 ERA while striking out 91 batters over innings pitched.[2] In 2021, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Kerkering in the fifth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[4] After signing with the team, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies and was later promoted to the Single-A Clearwater Threshers.

Kerkering was returned to Clearwater at the beginning of the 2023 season and was promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws after pitching scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts over nine relief appearances to begin the season.[5] Kerkering was later promoted to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, and then to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[6] In 49 combined appearances with Clearwater, Jersey Shore, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, Kerkering accumulated a 4–1 record and 1.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 14 saves in innings pitched. Kerkering was named the winner of the organization's Paul Owens Award for pitcher for the 2023 season.[7]

On September 22, 2023, Kerkering was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[8] He made his MLB debut two days later pitching a 1-2-3 8th inning, including two strikeouts, against the New York Mets.[9] On September 27, he picked up his first Major League win, after pitching a scoreless inning in a 7–6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kerkering would be named to the team's Wild Card Series roster, and in Game 2 facing the Miami Marlins he pitched another 1-2-3 inning, again occurring in the 8th inning.[10]

Personal life

Kerkering shares his given first name, Richard, with his father and paternal grandfather, but they all go by their middle names, all of which are different.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/orion-kerkering-689147 Orion Kerkering (profile)  - MLB.com.
  2. Web site: Portell . Vinnie . June 21, 2022 . Kerkering awaits MLB Draft fate . September 25, 2023 . Sun Newspapers . en.
  3. Web site: #44 Orion Kerkering . pointstreak.com . June 25, 2023.
  4. Web site: Phillies select USF pitcher Orion Kerkering in 5th round of MLB draft .
  5. Web site: Phillies prospect Orion Kerkering: Plus slider, triple-digit fastball, and a fast-riser? .
  6. News: Coffey . Alex . Phillies promote Mick Abel, Orion Kerkering, and two other pitchers to triple-A Lehigh Valley . September 21, 2023 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . The Philadelphia Inquirer . September 17, 2023.
  7. News: Seidman . Corey . Breakout rookie and ascending reliever honored as Phils' minor-leaguers of 2023 . September 23, 2023 . NBC Sports Philadelphia . NBCUniversal Media, LLC . September 21, 2023.
  8. Web site: Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Gets call to majors. September 22, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
  9. Web site: With tears in his dad's eyes, Kerkering shines in MLB debut . Todd . Zolecki . MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media . September 24, 2023 . September 25, 2023.
  10. News: Seidman . Corey . Phillies wild-card roster includes multiple rookies, no Lorenzen . October 3, 2023 . NBCSports Philadelphia . NBCUniversal Media, LLC . October 3, 2023.
  11. News: Zolecki . Todd . Kerkering expected a callup in a few years -- then, his phone rang . September 25, 2023 . MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media, LP. . September 23, 2023.