Orion Kerkering
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 50
Pitcher
Born: (2001-04-04) April 4, 2001
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 24, 2023, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts6
Teams

Richard Orion Kerkering (born April 4, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

Kerkering attended Venice High School and the University of South Florida, where he played college baseball for the South Florida Bulls for three seasons. He began his junior season as a starting pitcher before becoming the Bulls' closer. Kerkering made 19 appearances with 10 starts and went 5–7 with three saves and a 5.72 ERA while striking out 91 batters over 67+2⁄3 innings pitched.[1] In 2021, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Kerkering in the fifth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.[3] After signing with the team, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies and was later promoted to the Single-A Clearwater Threshers.

Kerkering was returned to Clearwater at the beginning of the 2023 season and was promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws after pitching 10+1⁄3 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts over nine relief appearances to begin the season.[4] Kerkering was later promoted to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, and then to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[5] In 49 combined appearances between Clearwater, Jersey Shore, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, Kerkering accumulated a 4–1 record and 1.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 14 saves in 53+2⁄3 innings pitched. For his efforts, Kerkering was named the winner of the organization's Paul Owens Award for pitcher for the 2023 season.[6]

On September 22, 2023, Kerkering was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his MLB debut two days later pitching a 1-2-3 8th inning, including two strikeouts, against the New York Mets.[8] On September 27, he picked up his first Major League win, after pitching a scoreless inning in a 7–6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kerkering would be named to the team's Wild Card Series roster, and in Game 2 facing the Miami Marlins he pitched another 1-2-3 inning, again occurring in the 8th inning.[9]

Personal life

Kerkering shares his given first name, Richard, with his father and paternal grandfather, but they all go by their middle names, all of which are different.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Portell, Vinnie (June 21, 2022). "Kerkering awaits MLB Draft fate". Sun Newspapers. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "#44 Orion Kerkering". pointstreak.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Phillies select USF pitcher Orion Kerkering in 5th round of MLB draft".
  4. ↑ "Phillies prospect Orion Kerkering: Plus slider, triple-digit fastball, and a fast-riser?".
  5. ↑ Coffey, Alex (September 17, 2023). "Phillies promote Mick Abel, Orion Kerkering, and two other pitchers to triple-A Lehigh Valley". The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. ↑ Seidman, Corey (September 21, 2023). "Breakout rookie and ascending reliever honored as Phils' minor-leaguers of 2023". NBC Sports Philadelphia. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Phillies' Orion Kerkering: Gets call to majors". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (September 24, 2023). "With tears in his dad's eyes, Kerkering shines in MLB debut". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  9. ↑ Seidman, Corey (October 3, 2023). "Phillies wild-card roster includes multiple rookies, no Lorenzen". NBCSports Philadelphia. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (September 23, 2023). "Kerkering expected a callup in a few years -- then, his phone rang". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
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