O's minor league Pitcher of the Year impressing in spring training

SARASOTA, Fla. - Several young pitchers from the Orioles minor leagues have done well in major league camp this spring. But only Tyler Wilson has posted eight scoreless innings in O's exhibition games.

A 10th-round draft pick in 2011 out of the University of Virginia, Wilson has pitched in four games working two scoreless innings each against the Rays, Phillies, Blue Jays and Twins.

"I feel good and healthy which is the most important thing," Wilson said. "Right now just trying to work on something and get better every day.

"Just throwing strikes. In spring training being too fine can really put you into some tough situations. The hitters are aggressive. It's the basic principles of the game - get ahead, throw strikes and work down in the zone and everything feeds off of that."

Wilson has allowed six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He has handled the balancing act well of working on pitches to get ready for the season while at the same time trying to get solid results to impress the coaches and manager Buck Showalter.

"It is definitely a balance," Wilson said. "A little bit more of a game-like mentality every day, which is good. This has really challenged me to be in that mentality every day. Plus, I want to take something from the other pitchers every day."

Wilson went a combined 14-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 166 2/3 innings between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk last summer on his way to winning the Jim Palmer award as the Orioles minor league Pitcher of the Year.

Now, after being added to the 40-man roster in November, he is knocking on the big league door for the first time as a pro.

"I'm excited to be here and excited every time I go pitch - whether it's in the bullpen or a game," he said. "Gets me fired up and the adrenaline pumping. There is nothing like competing, especially when it's on this stage with this team behind me and with these guys around me. It's been a real thrill."

Wilson led all Orioles minor leaguers in wins and strikeouts (157) and ranked seventh in ERA in 2014. He was the organizational Pitcher of the Month for April, when he went 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts for the Baysox. He is the organization's No. 12 rated prospect according to Baseball America.

He has found the O's veteran pitchers to be helpful and welcoming in camp.

"It's great," Wilson said. "Been watching these guys on TV and now get to watch how they go about their routines and learn from that rather than just how they work in the games. There is value in seeing what they challenge themselves to work on.

"No question (they've helped me). That is really refreshing to see how everyone wants to help one another and help everybody get better. There is no selfishness and everybody challenges each other."

If Wilson begins this year in the Triple-A rotation as expected, he could be among the first pitching callups this year. He has done nothing here to hurt his chances.

Has winning the minor league Pitcher of the Year award made him more of a marked man this year for opponent batters?

"I don't know, haven't really thought about it. It is in the past," Wilson said. "It was a great honor and I was very humbled to receive it, but at the same time it means nothing moving forward. It was a great culmination for my season last year, but 2015 is a totally different year and I have to be more prepared than ever."