Ashur Tolliver: "I'm so blessed to be an Oriole"

HOUSTON - Ashur Tolliver's long road to get to the big leagues - which included a major pothole via injury - reached its peak today when he joined the Orioles from Double-A Bowie in the visiting clubhouse at Minute Maid Park.

A fifth-round draft pick of the team in 2009, Tolliver had major labrum surgery in the spring of 2012 which threatened his career and took quite a few miles per hour off his fastball. It took him not months, but more like years to get back to form. And today he is a big leaguer for the first time. It's definitely a feel-good story. Tolliver said he always thought this day could come.

"I don't think I ever lost hope, but there were times when it was so far away with the injuries," he said this afternoon. "Coming back from labrum surgery, my stuff wasn't there, the velocity is not there. It seemed like such a long shot.

"People in this organization have been so good, sticking with me and encouraging me, the training staff and strength coaches, everyone just kept pushing me. And eventually I felt like it would happen."

Tolliver also provided the news of how he found out he was joining the Orioles. Earlier I published comments from Bowie manager Gary Kendall on the unique and special event.

"We finished a tough game, 13 innings, we lost by a run," Tolliver said. "Everybody wasn't down, but it was kind of a little somber in the clubhouse and Gary Kendall, our manager, comes in and gathers everyone around. And he's like, 'I know we are going through a tough time right now, but some cool stuff still happens in this game, too. Tolliver you are going to the big leagues.' And everybody got up, all the guys I've played with all these years. Gary, Alan Mills. It was pretty special, all these guys that I've come up with."

Tolliver was headed to be a minor league free agent for the first time after last season. But he decided to stick with the only organization he's ever known and he re-signed with the Orioles.

It's been a whirlwind few hours for him and he flew into Houston just this morning. Time spent sleeping, resting and responding to all his congratulatory text messages will come later.

Now comes the hard part - trying to get major league hitters out when called upon. He's a feel-good story right now and very much deservedly so. He knows soon he will have to put all the congratulations besides and see how he stacks up on the mound.

"Still working on that," he said. "It's been such a whirlwind and everything has happened so fast. I've been talking to Zach (Britton), Darren (O'Day) and Tilly (Chris Tillman) just about trying to adjust but at the same time getting ready to prove yourself to go in a game and get guys out. They've been awesome talking about just the same game, just a little different stage."

Tolliver already feels comfortable in the Orioles' clubhouse. He was there in February and March as a spring training invitee to camp. Then he went to Bowie and went 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA. With Brian Matusz traded and T.J. McFarland injured, Tolliver was the choice to join the big club.

He said joining the club is further validation he made the right choice after last year - to return to the Orioles.

"Oh, yeah. It's great. I couldn't write it any better. I think going through everything has made it that much better. Just thinking about it, I'm so blessed to be an Oriole. I love it here, I'm so glad I signed back here. Just the familiarity with the guys, the front office people. All the coaches from Lowest A to the big leagues. Just getting to experience it here makes it extra special."