Sizing up one 2022 rotation candidate

Right-hander Mike Baumann, still one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects, had a cameo in the big leagues last September. There were two outings without an earned run allowed and two where he gave it up. But there was not much to judge or analyze off a 10-inning small sample.

But Baumann ended 2021 making it to the big leagues. And that was a success since his season began amid lingering injury concerns and a two-inning outing on May 15 at low Single-A Delmarva. His early numbers were not great, but they were much better by the end of the year, and he would make his big league debut Sept. 7 at home against Kansas City, giving up just one unearned run over 3 2/3 innings.

"I just want to enjoy this moment," Baumann said on his first day in the majors. "I've worked my whole life for this. So, just kind of live it up in a big league stadium with great teammates. Just enjoy this moment."

Baumann posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in his big league appearances. He did not allow an earned run in five innings against the Royals and Texas, but gave up 11 earned in five innings versus Boston and Toronto.

But again, Baumann's year can be termed an overall success because he threw a combined 80 2/3 innings between Delmarva, Double-A Bowie, Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore. He ended the year healthy, although his stay in the big leagues had an end date. Called up on Sept. 7, he was optioned out on Sept. 23. But that was about his season-innings limit and nothing else.

He got his feet wet in the big leagues, and this was after a stretch of 10 straight starts between Bowie and Norfolk late in the year in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer. He pitched to a 2.05 ERA in his last four starts with Bowie, allowing 13 hits over 22 innings, with four walks to 26 strikeouts. Then he went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in six starts for the Tides. Over 27 innings, he gave up 18 hits with 13 walks, 26 strikeouts, a .194 batting average against and 1.15 WHIP.

Seeing Baumann look like his old self in the second half of the year on the farm was a great sight.

Drafted in round three in 2017 from the University of Jacksonville, Baumann has spent a lot of time on the Orioles' top 30 prospects lists. He was No. 14 in 2018, No. 21 in 2019 and No. 18 in 2020. He was preseason No. 8 by Baseball America ahead of last season and was No. 9 at midseason. His current rank is No. 10, via MLBPipeline.com. And that outlet puts 60 grades on his fastball and slider. The slider has been a big secondary weapon for Big Mike.

In the small sample of 10 big league innings last September, he used his fastball 56 percent of the time at an average velocity of 94 mph, and he threw his slider 35 percent. Baumann has shown velocity beyond 94 mph often with the Orioles. Maybe it was down a bit late last year as he was at his innings limit. He was coming off a 2020 season when he pitched at the alternate camp but was shut down late by a strained flexor mass in his right arm.

"It was fun to see him," manager Brandon Hyde said in late September. "I like the presence on the mound. I think it's going to be a mid-90s fastball. As he got a little bit more comfortable, I thought you saw him throw a few more breaking balls. I like his pitch mix. He's going to be a guy who's going to throw strikes and pound the zone and attack hitters. I like his aggressiveness. So we have high hopes for him."

The Baumann seen on the farm in July and August looked like the pitcher that has career minor league numbers of 28-16 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

Looking to 2022, we will find out whether Baumann can impact the big league roster for opening day or if the organization wants him to get more seasoning on the farm with more Triple-A innings.

But the numbers he put up in the second half of 2021 should have reminded us that Big Mike can still be a big part of the O's future.