Matt Hobgood leaves his outing tonight with tightness in right shoulder

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

May 08, 2014, 5:08pm

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Right-handed pitcher Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' 2009 first-round pick, left a relief outing tonight after facing just two batters for Single-A Frederick due to tightness in his shoulder. Hobgood came on to pitch in the top of the sixth at Harry Grove Stadium for the Keys against Winston-Salem. He gave up a single, got a strikeout and then was removed as Lex Rutledge came on. The Orioles' top pick, taken fifth overall in the 2009 draft, Hobgood had shoulder surgery on April 2, 2012 and missed all of that season. But he returned to throw 93 2/3 innings last season between Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick, going 9-4 with a 4.32 ERA and his fastball velocity returned to the mid 90s. This year Hobgood was 2-1 with a 3.45 ERA for Frederick over seven outings. In 15 2/3 innings he gave up 13 hits with seven walks and 13 strikeouts. He had an ERA of 1.54 in his first five outings, but gave up six runs (four earned) in four innings over his past two games. He went several days between pitching in games recently, pitching on April 24 and then not again until May 3.