Austin Voth on rejoining the Orioles today

When last seen pitching for the Orioles in mid-June, right-hander Austin Voth had allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings over a five-game stretch with a .391 batting average against.

That led to a trip to the injured list with right elbow discomfort, and just today Voth has returned to the Orioles' active roster. He was activated from the 60-day IL as Mike Baumann was optioned to Triple-A and Keegan Akin transferred to the 60-day IL with lower back discomfort.

Through his June 13 appearance, Voth went 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA and 1.581 WHIP over 31 innings in 23 games.

He said today he feels healthy and ready to rejoin and help this team.

“For the most part, yeah. Definitely took a little bit longer than I wanted to," Voth said. "But definitely glad to be back.

“It sucks (to not be here). I need to make sure I get right and everything. Just being away from the team and seeing what they are doing and accomplishing, it’s incredible. It’s been fun to watch from afar."

Voth made eight minor league rehab appearances, pitching to a 3.97 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.

“For the most part I was just trying to get back healthy, get back to being me. But there are always things you are tweaking here and there on the mound," he said of his time spent on the farm. 

He made six outings with Triple-A Norfolk, allowing 10 hits over 8 1/3 innings for the Tides while giving up four earned runs with five walks and recording 14 strikeouts. More than any results, though, Voth needed some reps to see that he was healthy again.

“I think it’s a feel thing,” he said. “Just getting out there and having no discomfort. Just having the tightness go away. Being able to let one rip and know that feels good.”

Voth’s longest outing on rehab comprised three scoreless innings on Aug. 13. In his last game for Norfolk he gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning on Sunday.

The breaking ball is a big pitch for Voth. He throws his curveball 31 percent and sweeper 16 percent, and uses those offerings often as out pitches. Were those pitches coming back nicely for him during his rehab games?

“I feel like I got my curveball back,” Voth said. “The sweeper is coming along too. And I still have my cutter. That was kind of the main thing I was having issues with, my breaking balls, so getting those pitches back is definitely going to help me out.”