After rare bullpen appearance, Alec Asher hopes to stick on O's roster

Maybe we didn't realize it at the time, but we got to see a rarity on Sunday here at Camden Yards: 25-year-old right-hander Alec Asher pitched in relief.

He is one of the newest Orioles and since the 2014 season, Asher had made 77 starts in the minors and majors with zero relief outings. Then he pitched in the ninth inning against Boston and he remains working out of the bullpen right now for the Orioles.

Going back to 2013, Asher made 26 appearances in the minors and just once pitched in relief. Then, beginning with the 2014 season and until Sunday, he made 64 minor league appearances and 13 in the majors - all as a starter.

At Camden Yards on Sunday, he came in with a man on first and none out in the ninth. He gave up a walk but then got Hanley Ramirez to hit into a double play and Mitch Moreland to fly out. He got three outs on 16 pitches.

The Orioles acquired Asher near the end of spring training in a March 28 trade with Philadelphia for a player to be named or cash considerations. He reported to Triple-A Norfolk and made one start with the Tides before he was called up to start April 15 in Toronto. It went well - he allowed three hits and one run over 6 1/3 innings at Rogers Centre.

So his first and second impressions with the Orioles have been solid and he has an ERA of 1.23 in 7 1/3 innings.

That rare relief outing also came on seven days' rest after his start for the Orioles against the Blue Jays. I asked Asher today how he has stayed ready, not knowing when he would pitch out of the bullpen.

"This is my first time in the bullpen, so I'm still trying to figure that out," he said. "If it's been like three or four days without pitching, then I'd probably just throw a couple of pitches on the side before the game. But I've gotten up and warmed up three or four times. But I'm still trying to figure it all out, too.

"In reality, it's just pitching, whether you start or relieve. It's a little different, but it's still pitching. When I get the call, I'm going to expect to go as long as I can. When you get out there, just focus on one pitch at a time and go from there."

Asher was 32-33 with a 3.36 ERA in the minors since 2012 at the time of the trade to Baltimore. He's averaged 2.28 walks and 8.09 strikeouts per nine innings. He had made 12 major league starts over the last two seasons with the Phillies. Last September, he threw well in five games, going 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA for Philadelphia.

Things are finally starting to settle down for a him somewhat after the trade late in spring training and starts in both Triple-A and the majors. Since late March, he's pitched for two teams and in three leagues. Asher knows some roster moves are looming for the Orioles and he'd like to stick around in the majors.

"It was a hectic first couple of days," he said. "But I feel part of this team now and I feel like I'm here to stay. Hope to be here awhile. Everyone in here is great. Lot of good guys and lot of veteran guys that are very welcoming. This has been a good experience so far."

If was for just a few pitches Sunday, but now he's contributed to an Orioles bullpen that has allowed just one run over 19 2/3 innings over the last seven games and has an ERA for the season of 2.73 to rank fifth in the AL.

"Even with Zach (Britton) out, we've done a heckuva job," Asher said. "I feel like we are throwing the ball really well. It is nice to be a part of one of the best bullpens in the game right now."