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Orion Kerkering

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Orion Kerkering
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 50
Pitcher
Born: (2001-04-04) April 4, 2001 (age 23)
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 24, 2023, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through June 5, 2024)
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average1.48
Strikeouts27
Teams

Richard Orion Kerkering (/oʊˈraɪɒn/ oh-RY-on;[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[edit]

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 67+2⁄3 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.[citation needed]

Kerkering was returned to Clearwater at the beginning of the 2023 season and was promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws after pitching 10+1⁄3 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 between Clearwater, Jersey Shore, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, Kerkering accumulated a 4–1 record and 1.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 14 saves in 53+2⁄3 innings pitched. For his efforts, 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.[citation needed] 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[edit]

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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Orion Kerkering (profile) – MLB.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024
  2. ^ Portell, Vinnie (June 21, 2022). "Kerkering awaits MLB Draft fate". Sun Newspapers. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "#44 Orion Kerkering". pointstreak.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Phillies select USF pitcher Orion Kerkering in 5th round of MLB draft".
  5. ^ "Phillies prospect Orion Kerkering: Plus slider, triple-digit fastball, and a fast-riser?".
  6. ^ Coffey, Alex (September 17, 2023). "Phillies promote Mick Abel, Orion Kerkering, and two other pitchers to triple-A Lehigh Valley". The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Seidman, Corey (September 21, 2023). "Breakout rookie and ascending reliever honored as Phils' minor-leaguers of 2023". NBC Sports Philadelphia. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Gets call to majors". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Zolecki, Todd (September 24, 2023). "With tears in his dad's eyes, Kerkering shines in MLB debut". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Seidman, Corey (October 3, 2023). "Phillies wild-card roster includes multiple rookies, no Lorenzen". NBCSports Philadelphia. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Zolecki, Todd (September 23, 2023). "Kerkering expected a callup in a few years -- then, his phone rang". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved September 25, 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orion_Kerkering&oldid=1227970190"