BALTIMORE -- Jeremy Hellickson was in an Orioles uniform on Monday, and the new right-hander, acquired in a trade with the Phillies on Friday night, will make his Baltimore debut on Wednesday against the Royals.
"I'm excited," Hellickson said of joining an O's team that is still trying to make a push for the postseason. "Didn't really hear Baltimore too much [in trade rumors] so it was kind of a surprise. But playing against these guys for four years in Tampa, looked like a fun group to be a part of, and I'm excited."
Hellickson, who took a light work day on Monday, struggled to start the season, but was able to turn it around. The 30-year-old, who has averaged 30 starts per season -- discounting his rookie year in 2010 and his 13-start season in '14 -- was 6-5 with a 4.73 ERA in 20 starts for the Phillies this season. The trade -- which was in exchange for outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, Double-A left-hander Garrett Cleavinger and international bonus money -- was one of two moves made before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline for the Orioles, who also acquired shortstop Timothy Beckham from the Rays.
"He's pitched in the American League East, there's a lot of things to like about Jeremy," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's obviously looking for a home as his career goes forward, and hopefully he can find one here. We are in need of what he has the potential to bring."
<p. a="" agent="" an="" at="" bolster="" eat="" end="" free="" has="" hellickson="" hopes="" innings="" of="" orioles="" p="" rotation="" season.="" struggled="" that="" the="" this="" to="" up=""> "I'm ready to help," Hellickson said Monday. "There are still two months to play. I've been part of teams that came back from nine back in a month. It's definitely doable, it's always fun to come back to do things that people say you can't do. So, it'll be a fun two months." </p.>
Less fun? Pitching at hitter-friendly Camden Yards.
"I never liked coming here, I think that was more to do with the offense I was going to face than the park," said Hellickson when asked if he agreed with most pitchers about Camden Yards. "It's definitely not a pitcher's park, but neither was Philadelphia. I don't worry about that too much, but I definitely agree I don't think a lot of guys enjoy pitching here."