Virginia baseball alum Tyler Wilson made his Major League debut with Baltimore in May and made three starts in September for the O’s.
Heading into 2016, the right-hander is in the mix to be the fifth starter for manager Buck Showalter.
“I come into camp thinking that I’m going to do everything that I can to be ready to go every day,” Wilson said in a recent interview. “I think that intra-team competition from one person to the next is what’s going to make this team great and give us a chance to get back to the postseason.”
Wilson was 2-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 2015, with nine appearances, including five starts. His one drawback is lack of power: he had just 13 strikeouts in 36 innings, with an average 90.1 mph fastball, according to FanGraphs.com.
His numbers at Triple-A Norfolk were better – 63 Ks in 94.1 innings, and his control was solid in the minors as well, with just 18 walks and a 1.187 WHIP.
The Orioles are likely to have at least one spot in their rotation open in 2016 with the expected departure of Wei-Yin Chen.
The front office has been putting out feelers for free-agent starters including righty Yovani Gallardo and lefty Scott Kazmir.
Wilson is nose to grindstone doing what he can to get ready to compete.
“I want the Orioles to win,” Wilson said. “That’s the ultimate goal for everybody. And if they think that signing a starter is what’s going to be important to improving our club and giving our team a chance to get back to the postseason, then so be it. I’m ready to contribute in whatever role that they deem fit, and I’m going to do everything I can every day to be healthy and be ready for that.”
– Story by Chris Graham
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