Mike Wright on getting another start for the O's and a Branden Kline update

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

May 20, 2015, 1:38pm

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Since he threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut on Sunday at Camden Yards, Mike Wright's cell phone has been blowing up. He's getting a lot of congratulations from a lot of people.

"I had a lot of message, lot of things on social media," Wright said this afternoon. "Good to know I have that much support. I heard from my grandmom. She hated she couldn't be here but I know she was watching every pitch and loving it. She just had a birthday yesterday."

Now that Wright got one chance to pitch in the big leagues, he is going to get a second when he makes the start Saturday night at Miami.

"That's great. Think my family is going to drive down to Miami," he said. "They're excited too. Great to get another chance to start."

Wright was asked how he will handle the success he had Sunday as he gets ready for another start.

"Exact same way I've been. It's still a game and I will still go out there and have fun," he said. "Not many people get this opportunity. So for me to go out there and put too much pressure on myself and not enjoy it would be a waste. So, I'm going to relax, have fun and whatever happens happens.

Wright's fastball touched 97 and 98 mph on Sunday, both early and late in his start. He was throwing a little harder than some scouting reports had given him credit for.

"The adrenaline and the type of game I was in probably dictated that a little bit," Wright said of the radar readings. "I would say I have touched that every game this season, but probably a little more consistent during that game.

"Honestly it's the mentality I had at the end of last year to relax. When your muscles relax and everything is working for you everything comes out a lot better."

Kline's early exit for Bowie: Double-A Bowie right-handed pitcher Branden Kline left his start this afternoon in the second inning with right forearm tightness and elbow discomfort. He is expected to have an MRI.

Kline, the Orioles' second-round pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia, went 1 2/3 innings today, allowing one hit and no runs, and had thrown 20 pitches when he exited the game. He is 3-3 with an ERA of 3.66 in eight starts this year for the Baysox.

The 23-year-old Kline was ranked after last season as the Orioles' No. 26 prospect by Baseball America. In 2014, he went 8-6 with an ERA of 3.84 for Single-A Frederick and was 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA in late-season starts for Bowie. Bowie scored three in the eighth inning today to win that game 3-1 at Trenton.

Frederick today activated outfielder Josh Hart off the disabled list. He had been in Florida rehabbing from a strained right shoulder and had been on the DL since mid April. The Keys also added catcher Pedro Perez and placed catcher Wynston Sawyer on the DL

Delmarva right-handed pitcher Derrick Bleeker left his outing this afternoon with right elbow discomfort. A 37th-round pick out of the University of Arkansas, Bleeker converted from the outfield to the mound in 2013. This season for the Shorebirds he is 1-2 with a 6.53 ERA over 10 games.