Spenser Watkins #17

Attended Western Oregon University and Horizon (AZ) HS...Was prepared to quit baseball and accept a job coaching high school baseball before the Orioles offered him a Minor League deal prior to the 2021 season....Worked out and spent a lot of time in the offseason with teammates Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer.

2022

Began the season with Triple-A Norfolk; had his contract selected by Baltimore on 4/11; placed on the Injured List (right elbow contusion) on 5/23; optioned to Norfolk on 6/8; recalled by Baltimore on 6/25; optioned back to Norfolk on 9/7; recalled by Baltimore on 9/23...Made his season debut, starting the Orioles' fifth game of the season on 4/12 vs. MIL...Pitched to a 2.55 ERA (5 ER/17.2 IP) with 14 hits, eight total runs, two home runs, eight walks, one hit batter and eight strikeouts in his first four games, all starts, of the season through April...Left his start on 5/22 vs. TB with a right forearm contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Ji-Man Choi in the first inning...Earned his first win of the season on 6/25 at CWS (5.0 IP, 5 H, R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K)...Threw a career-high 6.2 innings on 7/6 vs. TEX, earning the win (6.2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 3 K)...Went 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA (7 ER/34.0 IP) and a .238 opponent average (31-for-130) in six starts from 6/25 to 8/1; O's went 5-1 in those games; stretch included three quality starts and he allowed one or no runs in five of the six starts...Posted a 0.94 HR/9, the second-lowest by an Orioles pitcher (min. 70.0 IP); finished 2021 with a 2.30 HR/9, the fifth-highest in MLB (min. 50.0 IP); surrendered eight fewer homers at Oriole Park in 2022 than 2021...Earned the win after allowing one run on two hits, including a home run, and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings in his last Norfolk start of the season on 9/13 vs. Charlotte.

2021

Made his Major League debut on 7/2 at LAA (1.0 IP) ...Is the only player selected in the 30th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft to have made his Major League debut ...Earned his first-career win in his first Major League start on 7/6 vs. TOR (5.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K); struck out Randal Grichuk swinging in the second inning for his first-career strikeout...Became the first Oriole since RHP Dean Kremer on 9/16/20 to toss 5.0 innings-or-more and allow one run-or-less in his first- career start...According to STATS, LLC., Watkins snapped a 24-game streak in which an O’s starting pitcher did not earn a win, the longest such streak in club history...Suffered the first loss of his career on 7/27 vs. MIA, beginning a stretch of seven-straight losses through 8/29 vs. TB, which marked his final start of the season...His final five outings of the season from 9/12-10/2 came as a reliever...Appeared in eight games (six starts) with Triple-A Norfolk, in which he went 1-2 with a 3.53 ERA (14 ER/35.2 IP), 11 walks, and  30 strikeouts...Was a non-roster invitee to Orioles Spring Training, appearing in three Grapefruit League games as a reliever.

2020

Did not play during the regular season, because of the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Spent time with three different affiliates, Class A-Advanced Lakeland, Double-A Erie, and Triple-A Toledo...Made a season-high 14 starts (16 appearances) with Toledo, going 5-6 with a 7.98 ERA (68 ER/76.2 IP).