Pregame notes with Crichton, Asher and Schoop

TORONTO - Taken by the Orioles out of Texas Christian in the 23rd round of the 2013 draft, right-hander Stefan Crichton's climb to reach the majors leagues is at hand. He was activated by the Orioles yesterday and awaits the chance to pitch in a game and make his major league debut.

He found out from Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson just before midnight Wednesday night that he would join the Orioles here yesterday.

"It's hard to kind of put what I am thinking into words, but very, very excited to be here," Crichton said this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse.

While spring training games may seem meaningless to most of us, they seem to have been a big factor leading to Crichton getting this shot. He kept getting called over from minor league camp in Florida this year and pitched eight scoreless innings, showing manager Buck Showalter control and command of a fastball that has touched 96 and 97 mph.

"I think confidence comes from success, right?" Crichton said. "I got the chance to go to the (Arizona) Fall League last year and had some success there, which definitely helped. Then, obviously, throwing against big league and minor league guys in spring training helped. Just watching the swings they have off you. Again, confidence comes from success.

"Yeah, anytime Buck asks for guys to come over and you repeatedly get that invite, it's definitely not so much a sign, but obviously you are doing something right if they keep asking for you to come back."

Right-hander Alec Asher was also in the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon, awaiting his starting assignment tomorrow afternoon against the Blue Jays. Acquired March 28 from Philadelphia for a player to be named or cash, Asher made 12 major league starts with the Phillies the last two years. He produced very poor stats in 2015, but very good numbers last year. In 2015, he pitched to an ERA of 9.31 in seven starts. Last September, he went 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA over five starts for the Phils.

"It's nice to have some experience under my belt," Asher said. "It's not too new. But I mean it's exciting. Anytime you get called up to the big leagues, you want to have success. That's what I'm going to try to do."

It has probably been a challenge for Asher to even feel a part of the O's organization. He's been with the team for just over two weeks and in that time has pitched in spring training, traveled north to Triple-A Norfolk and now joins the Orioles in Toronto.

"It happens fast, but you're playing the same game and when you're around good people and you're just changing colors and uniforms. It's exciting to be in this place and hopefully we'll win," he said.

Asher made one start with the Tides before being summoned here. He pitched 4 1/3 innings Monday.

Meanwhile, second baseman Jonathan Schoop has moved up to sixth in the Orioles lineup tonight. After batting just .105 (2-for-19) through the first six games, Schoop is 4-for-7 his last two games with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs.

"I felt like my swing was there, but I was missing my pitch," Schoop said of the .105 start. "That's baseball. I didn't think I was struggling. I was swinging at strikes, but finally in Boston and yesterday, I finally squared a couple balls up."

Now he hopes to keep that going.

"Of course. You get confidence back. It's a good feeling when you were are going good," he said.

I asked Schoop about the slick double play he and shortstop J.J. Hardy turned in the second inning Thursday night. Hardy fielded a ball near the second base bag and from his glove shuffled the ball to Schoop for a smooth 6-4-3 double play.

"That was all about J.J. He's the captain, he's one of the best over there," Schoop said. "That's the first time I've seen him flip it right out of his glove."