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The Baysox Starters

RHP Brad Bergesen (7-2, 2.11): Bergesen was an O's 4th-round pick out of a California high school in 2004. The 22-year-old made four starts at Frederick this season before his promotion to Double-A. He has allowed just 11 walks in 73 innings and has pitched to an ERA of 1.33 in four June starts. Bergesen was a South Atlantic League all-star in 2007 when he split time between Delmarva and Frederick. He throws a fastball, slider and change.

Coach Griffin says: "His number one strength has been his ability to consistently get ahead of hitters. He's a real strike thrower. He's gotten outs early in counts, keeping his pitch count down and allowing him to get deeper into games. His last three starts have been very, very good. He's been real consistent, outing-to-outing."

RHP Jason Berken (4-3, 4.68): Berken, 22, was an O's 6th-round pick out of Clemson in 2006. While he has allowed 86 hits on the season in 73 innings he has shown good control with just 14 walks. He has struggled in June with an ERA of 6.75. He won the Elrod Hendricks award in 2007 which goes to an O's Minor Leaguer for his community service. He throws a fastball, curve, slider and change.

Coach Griffin says: "He has really been working on throwing his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate; that's been a key for him. And his changeup has been very consistent outing-to-outing. He struggled a bit at the beginning of June, he got away from his gameplan a little and too many of his pitches found the middle of the plate. But he's back throwing well."

RHP David Hernandez (5-1, 2.83): He was the O's 16th-round pick in 2005 and led the Carolina League in strikeouts in 2007. The 23-year-old Hernandez is having a very solid year, and Saturday pitched six no-hit innings vs. Altoona. Opponents are batting just .219 against him. He pitched to a 2.52 ERA in April, 3.58 in May, and in June it's 1.93. He throws a fastball, slider and change.

Coach Griffin says: "He's gotten a lot of swing and misses on his fastball and his slider has been real consistent all year. He has started a lot of hitters with a first-pitch slider and that's been very impressive. He has been able to throw his fastball to both sides of the plate for strikes. His change is coming along, but needs some progress. I'm real pleased with his progress from his first start to now."

RHP Chorye Spoone (2-3, 5.04): The 22-year-old Spoone did not pitch between April 20 and June 11 due to a shoulder injury. In seven starts, he has allowed 29 hits over 30 1/3. He was the O's 8th-round pick in 2005 from Catonsville Community College and is from Pasadena, Maryland. In 2007, Spoone was second in the Carolina League in strikeouts and 5th in ERA. He has struggled this year vs. left-handed hitters. He throws a fastball, curve, slider and change.

Coach Griffin says: "He's just getting his feet back on the ground with his last two starts. He has a good, live fastball with good movement. His change has been a good pitch this year, a pleasant surprise in how well he uses it and the way he uses it."

RHP Chris Tillman (7-2, 2.67): Tillman, one of the O's top prospects, was acquired from Seattle in the February 8th Erik Bedard deal. He was drafted by the Mariners in round two of 2006 and was the M's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007. At 20 he is one of the youngest players in the Eastern League. He has been consistently good since the season began, allowing just 48 hits in 71 innings with 73 strikeouts. His opponent batting average is just .191. Tillman, who has allowed 2ER or less over his last five starts, pitched to an ERA of 2.91 in April, 2.53 in May and it's 2.65 in June. He throws a fastball, curve and change.

Coach Griffin says: "He's a special kid. At 20, he is such a quick learner; he's like a sponge; he just soaks it up. He's been very consistent with his delivery, made tremendous strides there. I love his work ethic, sometimes you might have to really stay on a kid who is just 20, but not him.

"He has done very, very well (with hype and high expectations). He's a level-headed kid and very professional."

Around The Minors
Hayden Penn, pitching Sunday for the first time since May 26, gave up four runs and four hits over just one inning in Norfolk's 6-0 loss at Durham. He allowed two walks and a homer in falling to 3-3.

Frederick Keys catcher Matt Wieters, outfielder Brandon Tripp and pitcher Jake Arrieta will play in the Carolina League-California League All-Star Game tomorrow in Myrtle Beach. The Keys resume play after the break, hosting Kinston Thursday.

In last Tuesday's South Atlantic League All-Star Game, OF Joe Nowicki was 0-1 with a walk and run scored. Pitcher Sean Gleason pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Delmarva has made 120 errors in 73 games on the season.

Short-season Aberdeen began its season this week and has started 3-3 in the New York-Penn League. Catcher Chad Durakis, a 37th-round pick out of Maryland by way of Baltimore's St. Paul's school, has gotten off to a 5-9 start at the plate with two doubles and four RBI.