Reviewing Orioles with home runs as first major league hits

The next Orioles prospect to debut in the majors is a pitcher, left-hander Cade Povich, who joined the team yesterday in Toronto and hailed the taxi squad.

Manager Brandon Hyde told the media after last night's walk-off loss that Povich would start this afternoon's series finale against the Blue Jays. He can occupy the last spot on the 40-man roster, but a reliever must be removed from the active roster unless something is wrong with Kyle Bradish that we still don't know about.

The only information shared is that he's pushed back and it could be more than one day. And that TBA is gonna be a common listing among the probables.

The next position player to debut might be third baseman Coby Mayo, but he’s on Triple-A Norfolk’s injured list with a fractured rib. The good news is he’s swinging a bat.

Jackson Holliday already got his first major league hit, a single, before the Orioles optioned him. Connor Norby became the 12^th Orioles player to homer for his first hit, delivering a two-run shot to left field Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.

Heston Kjerstad was the most recent Oriole to accomplish the feat on Sept. 15, 2023 against the Rays. Gunnar Henderson did it on Aug. 31, 2022 against Cleveland.

The list also includes Trey Mancini on Sept. 20, 2016 against the Red Sox and Nick Markakis on April 5, 2006 against the Rays. Two players who won’t shock you.

A few others just might.

Here are the rest from STATS and the Elias Sports Bureau:

Ed Rogers in 2005 vs. the Yankees
José Morban in 2003 vs. the Rays
Calvin Pickering in 1998 vs. Yankees
Craig Worthington in 1988 vs. Twins
Dan Graham in 1980 vs. Brewers
Larry Haney in 1966 vs. Indians
Buster Narum in 1963 vs. Tigers

Pickering was an imposing, power-hitting prospect listed at 6-feet-5 and 283 pounds who appeared in only 32 games with the Orioles, hit three home runs for them and totaled 14 in 95 games.

Worthington finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1989. He hit 29 homers in 335 games with the Orioles.

Graham was a part-time catcher who broke into the majors with the Twins, appearing in two games in 1979, and hit 15 homers in 286 plate appearances with the Orioles in ’80. He hit two more in 55 games in ’81 and never got back to the majors.

Haney made his major league debut with the Orioles in 1966 and hit his home run during their championship season, the first in Baltimore. He amassed five in 116 games before completing his 12-year career with the Pilots, Athletics (twice), Cardinals and Brewers.

A dozen home runs in a dozen seasons.

Saving the best for last finally leads us to Narum. It’s always more interesting with a pitcher, and in this case, one who did it in his first at-bat.

Narum relieved Chuck Estrada, who allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings. He tossed 2 2/3 scoreless and hit a two-run homer off Don Mossi.

It gets better. Narum appeared in seven games and was traded to the Senators on March 31, 1964 for a player to be named later who became Lou Piniella.

Narum actually hit a home run 1964 and another in ’65.

I can’t close this topic without mentioning former Orioles outfielder Lou Montañez, who homered in his first major league at-bat on Aug. 6, 2008 in Anaheim. It’s complicated.

A suspended game on April 28 was resumed on Aug. 25, and Montañez grounded out as a pinch-hitter. Major League Baseball recognizes the April 28 game as Montañez’s debut, even though he was playing for Double-A Bowie and about to win the Eastern League’s Triple Crown.

The Elias Sports Bureau used to credit Montañez with homering in his first at-bat but his name was dropped from the list.

* Corbin Burnes’ 2.26 ERA is the lowest by an Orioles pitcher through his first 13 starts in a season since Jim Palmer (2.12) in 1978. It’s the third-lowest by a pitcher through their first 13 starts with the Orioles after Tom Phoebus (2.10) in 1966-67 and Mike Cuellar (2.03) in 1969.

Burnes is tied for the major league lead with 10 quality starts and ranks fourth with 79 2/3 innings pitched.