Mike Wright among young O's pitchers making a positive spring impression

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Some young pitchers from the minor leagues continue to show well in major league exhibition games with the Orioles.

Mike Wright, Hunter Harvey and Tyler Wilson have combined to pitch 11 2/3 scoreless innings over their last seven appearances.

Wright was the latest to take the mound and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames yesterday in Bradenton against the Pirates, allowing just one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.

"I feel very good about the way camp is going and I feel fantastic," the 25-year-old Wright said.

The Orioles' No. 8 prospect according to Baseball America, Wright has allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in three games as he tries to take advantage of every chance he gets to show what he can do.

"You definitely have to step your game up," Wright said. "Trying to show them the best you have. Tried to come in as best prepared as I can. I feel like I've had a good spring so far."

It has been a carryover from a very strong end to his 2014 season with Triple-A Norfolk. Last summer, Wright's ERA was 6.16 in late July with the Tides. But he pitched to an ERA of 0.76 in August and in his last four starts, he gave up one earned run in 29 2/3 innings for a 0.30 ERA.

He said one key to that big finish was that he was just able to relax more and allow his ability to come through. Whatever mindset he found to do that carried over to this year.

"This offseason, I just tried to stay in that mindset all offseason, even though I was not pitching," he said. "Just tried to remember where I was (with my pitching) at the beginning and where I was at the end and how I got there. Tried to remember that feeling as I came into camp."

Some are intrigued to see if Wright could be a weapon out of the bullpen. They see a tall, strong starter that can pitch in the mid 90s and wonder if that velocity would gain a tick or two in shorter bullpen outings.

Wright said the veteran Orioles pitchers have been very welcoming and helpful to the young pitchers that have yet to make the majors.

"Every day, if you come watch our bullpens, (Chris) Tillman, Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez, they are all standing there watching us," Wright said. "After a bullpen, they will come and say, 'Hey, that was a good job, you really did this or that.' Really a big help. On some teams, guys might be scared for their job (and) fighting for their position, but everyone here is like a family. It is more about the Orioles than themselves."

Gonzalez will start for the Orioles today at Bright House Field against the Phillies with Brad Brach and Dylan Bundy also scheduled to pitch.

The Orioles have a list of 13 players from minor league camp with them today, including pitchers Donnie Hart, Marcel Prado, Pedro Beato and Elih Villanueva; catchers Rossmel Perez and Jonah Heim; infielders Sean Halton, Adrian Marin, Garabez Rosa, Ozzie Martinez and Sharlon Schoop; and outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Julio Borbon.