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Left hander Zach Britton, one of the O's top pitching prospects, left his last start of the year, on August 30 with Frederick, after just two innings. At the time he said he didn't feel pain, but just didn't feel right.

"He wanted to make another start back then, but we felt his innings were where he needed to be," Stockstill said. "He probably could have stayed in that game but came out as a precaution. You're not going to take any chances with a pitcher with an arm like that.

"Now, he is 100 percent fine."

The 21-year-old Britton was the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year in 2009, going 9-6, 2.70 in 24 starts covering 140 innings. He was second in the league in ERA and strikeouts.

Tony Butler had arthroscopic left shoulder surgery April 21st in Baltimore. No major damage was found. He returned late in the year to pitch at Gulf Coast and Aberdeen.

The 21-year-old was acquired by the O's in the Erik Bedard trade with Seattle back in February of 2008.

"He was pitching late in the year. His velocity had not returned and we just have to continue the strengthening program.

"He is a bit of a puzzle. This has been going on for almost two years and no one found anything wrong but there is still some pain and discomfort for him and a lack of command.

"He'll start the throwing program in January and we'll see where he is at then."

Butler joined the Gulf Coast club in late July and went 0-1, 2.92 in 12 1/3 innings. He made one Aberdeen appearance on September 3rd and gave up five runs in just 2/3 of an inning.

Zach Clark dealt for much of this year with some shoulder weakness. No other injury was found.

The 26-year-old righty has pitched four seasons in the organization. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Baltimore's UMBC in May of 2006.

"He was pitching in games late in the year at Double and Triple-A and should be 100 percent for spring training," Stockstill said. "He regained most of his velocity but not his consistency, although he was throwing pretty well late in the year.

"When he got to Bowie to start the year and threw his first bullpen, he said 'my shoulder hurts.' Later he admitted it was hurting in spring training, but he hadn't said anything. So pitching there without treatment he injured it further and it took longer to get strength back in it."

Clark returned to pitch with the Gulf Coast League O's in late June and also spent time during this past season with Frederick, Bowie and Norfolk.

In 23 games combined at the four stops he went 2-1, 3.35. In 48 1/3 innings he walked 13 and fanned 35.

Righty Jim Hoey had shoulder surgery in May of 2008 and missed all of the 2008 season. He returned to pitch at Bowie in relief this year. He missed about a month early in the year due to shoulder soreness. Back in 2004, the 26-year-old Hoey underwent Tommy John surgery.

"He made a lot of progress and at times in the second half his velocity was right where it used to be at 95, 96, but it wasn't there consistently. He would be in the 88-92 range, than throw harder the next time.

"He still had some stiffness at times. He finished the year very healthy and back to where he was physically. So now he'll have a strengthening program in the off-season and in January start his throwing program."

In 36 Bowie games in 2009, Hoey went 2-6, 4.50 and in 48 innings walked 32 and fanned 47. His ERA was 3.00 before the all-star break and 7.00 after it.

Righty John Mariotti's season ended early due to a broken hand.

"It was a mysterious incident after he came out of a game where he had been hit hard in the game. He's fine now, but missed the last part of the year. He threw his glove with his pitching (right) hand and maybe broke it then. He's back at full go now."

Between Frederick and Bowie in 2009, the Canadian native Mariotti went 3-11, 3.86 in 25 games, 15 starts. The 25-year-old made his last Bowie appearance on August 2nd.

Lefty Troy Patton missed all of 2008 after left shoulder surgery. He returned this year and went 6-2, 1.99 in 11 Bowie starts. He then moved to Triple-A Norfolk and went 1-3, 6.45 in nine starts there.

"He pitched very well at Bowie and about the time he went to Triple-A he was starting to wear down a bit. But he needed to pitch some at Triple-A. As he got more tired we felt like he had pitched enough innings so he was shut down.

"He worked the last few weeks on strengthening his shoulder and by the end of the year it felt good to him again. He should be at full strength in spring training."

Wilfrido Perez had surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow in July. No structural damage was found.

"I saw him recently in the Dominican and he's coming along real well. He won't pitch on a winter league team but in January and February he will pitch in some controlled situations in our morning program. He is throwing some bullpens at our academy now.

"He should be 100 percent fine for spring training. There was no repairing any tendons or muscles or anything."

The 25-year-old Perez, who is on the O's 40-man roster, was having a great year at Bowie until his surgery. He went 2-0, 1.37 with 7 saves. In 26 1/3 innings he gave up just 12 hits with 22 walks and 29 strikeouts. Eastern League batters hit just .136 of him in 2009.

Chorye Spoone is coming back from shoulder surgery from September of 2008.

"He pitched some at the end of the year and had his velocity back but was rusty. He dominated at Gulf Coast League level and pitched well at Aberdeen and Frederick. We were pleased he could throw as much as he did and at times was throwing 93, 94 with a good curve ball.

"He was off with his command consistency because he hadn't pitched for a year. But we were pleased he came back and he should be 100 percent in spring."

Spoone first pitched for the Gulf Coast team on July 22nd. In 10 games mostly with Gulf Coast and Frederick, he went 0-3, 6.37. In 29 2/3 innings he walked 19 and fanned 25.

He will not pitch any winter ball as the club takes it slow with him.