Strong finish ends solid year as David Hess makes the 40-man

Right-hander David Hess has pitched in spring training games before for the Orioles. But that was always as one of the minor league pitchers added for a game as a just-in-case guy.

But next season, he'll begin spring training with a locker in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium. The 24-year-old Hess was recently added to the Orioles' 40-man roster. So he'll report with the other pitchers and catchers in February and he could possibly get a long look from a club that needs starting pitching.

"Going into next season, I was really hoping for a big league camp invite," said Hess in looking forward to his first time in big league camp. "To get to see what the atmosphere is like and learn from the guys up there. Just become better, as much as I can."

We don't know what additions the Orioles will make to their rotation between now and spring training. But getting added to the 40-man moves Hess closer than ever to getting a big league chance.

"The opportunities are there," he said. "I'll do everything I can in my power to make a name for myself and throw myself in the mix. You know, hopefully I get a chance for that. I know there are a lot of great guys there and there will be competition. But I'll try to put myself in the best position possible."

After pitching to an ERA of 5.37 at Double-A Bowie in 2016, Hess had a strong 2017 season with the Baysox. He went 11-9 with a 3.85 ERA and ranked second in the Eastern League in innings (154 1/3), third in strikeouts (123), third in average against among starters (.235) and tied for third in wins.

"As a whole, I felt good about the year and that I made some improvements as the season went on," Hess said. "At one point, I hit a tough patch and went to work with Kennie Steenstra, our pitching coach. We just focused on some things to help me improve. The biggest thing was just to get comfortable on the mound and I was able to help us make a playoff push."

Hess lowered his ERA from 2016 to 2017, reduced his WHIP (1.58 to 1.22) and improved on his strikeout rate (6.01 to 7.17). The fifth-round pick out of Tennessee Tech in 2014 finished the year very well. Over his last six starts, he went 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA. In those 40 innings, he gave up just 23 hits with seven walks to 33 strikeouts.

"I think it was as simple as (improving my) location," he said. "For me, it was more sequencing and executing the locations that I needed to hit. Sometimes throwing a strike is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes you need to throw a putaway pitch or back a guy off the plate a bit. Learning how to sequence hitters better and executing on that was a big thing that we focused on.

"Sometime at the lower levels, you can get by on stuff. But at Double-A, I had to learn how to use the stuff to get hitters out and keep them off-balance. They make as many adjustments as you do. You have to learn the art of pitching. You have to understand yourself as much as the hitters."

Hess has a nice four-pitch mix, with a fastball that sits between 91 and 95 and a slider that he rates as his best secondary pitch. He said his curve and changeup come next, and depending on the feel for each pitch on a given day, one could be ahead of the other for that game. He did make some tweaks on his off-speed pitch this year.

"I worked on a little bit of a different split-change grip and I got more comfortable with that." Hess said. "I felt like, as the year went on, I got more comfortable with my curveball, as well. I felt good with my slider. That's a pitch that, I wouldn't say it's my bread and butter, but is a big factor in what I like to use."

Now that he has pitched to an ERA under 4.00 at short-season Single-A Aberdeen, Single-A Delmarva, Single-A Frederick and Bowie, Hess seems poised to move to at least the Triple-A level in 2018. He's getting closer to the big leagues and now he's ready to try and take that step as soon as possible. That is how he looks at the chances he'll get in spring training.

"I think you want to have the mindset of the best possible outcome," he said. "So going into spring, I'm going in with the mentality that I'm fighting for a spot. You win in the end when you learn and succeed with the goals that you set for yourself."