Hall got the ball Saturday, proving his velocity has come all the way back

Orioles' lefty DL Hall has not thrown too many pitches as a big leaguer. But two he threw against the Colorado Rockies Saturday night, in a scoreless inning, must have had some meaning for him.

He threw one pitch 98.8 mph and another at 98.9. In 17 2/3 career innings, those were his two fastest big league pitches.

It showed that Hall, 24, has his velocity all the way back. He had seen it come together well for him at the Triple-A level in recent games, but to do so in front of a huge crowd and protect a lead Saturday night for the Orioles represented a nice return to the majors for Hall.

“Unreal feeling to be back up here and be with this awesome team,” he said of that outing.

A back issue in spring limited Hall then and when his season began the velocity was not as expected. The Orioles sent him to Florida in mid June to, for a time, pitch less and more work on rebuilding some strength.

“It was a lot of working out and rehabbing,” he said of his time in Sarasota. “Just trying to get the stability back in my legs and back and just really crushing the weight room. It was something I couldn’t do when I was hurt. Couldn’t lift weights. I was trying to pitch at the beginning of the year without lifting and didn’t really have my strength. So, I just focused on getting stronger down there.

“I think (it was about) just really getting my feet up under me. I started behind the eight ball in spring training because of my back. Didn’t lift weights, couldn’t run. So, my athleticism was just kind of being hidden because I couldn’t do a whole lot. Just needed to be in the weight room, start my running and start moving fast again.”

So, after making one outing in the majors on April 29, as the 27^th man for a doubleheader at Detroit, Hall is finally back with Baltimore. Nearly four months later.

And he re-enters a clubhouse that can seem like an extension of the Triple-A team almost with so many young players that came up together.

“It’s awesome. Everyone here I’ve kind of come up with. Gunnar (Henderson), Westy (Jordan Westburg), all those guys. It’s incredible to see that we are all up here together. And sharing a clubhouse with Grayson (Rodriguez), we’re close, so it’s been awesome.

“This is an awesome group of guys, and everyone down there wants to be here and be a part of it. I’m thankful and super blessed to be here with these guys," he said. 

Hall added that when he was in Florida building his arm strength back, he was only off the mound for about two weeks before throwing side sessions and getting back going. But he had to battle a mental game as well, needing patience and confidence that the process he was going through would get him back on the mound once again throwing high 90s.

“It’s definitely been a huge challenge mentally, probably one of the biggest challenges I’ve had so far in my career. Getting a taste of it last year and kind of expecting to be a big part of it this year. … It taught me a lot of perseverance and just not giving in.

“Everybody has a different path to get here. I missed a lot of this year and have missed time in years’ past. But I’m here now and ready to help them win.”

Although he now gives the team another late-game bullpen lefty and even someone that could go multiple innings. Hall's future could still be as a starter. The Orioles are clearly open to that, and Hall still seeks a future as a pitcher in the rotation.

“I’m definitely excited just to be healthy again. I think with the health and the velo I’m definitely excited to give starting another go now that I’m myself again," he said.