Yoon delivers scoreless debut for Orioles

SARASOTA,Fla. -- Suk-min Yoon had an impressive debut for the Orioles, throwing a scoreless seventh inning in Saturday's 2-1 win over a Yankees split-squad.

"My control was better than expected, but I also feel like my fastball was 2 mph faster than I expected," Yoon, who was in the 89-90-mph range, said through his interpreter.

Yoon said it will take "about 20 days" to be in midseason form, although he wasn't expected to make the team's Opening Day roster anyway. A late offseason signing, Yoon had to leave camp to obtain his work visa by going to Canada, which cost him additional time in making his Grapefruit League debut.

"He's got like five pitches -- fastball curveball, cutter, changeup and a palm ball," catcher Caleb Joseph said. "And Ive caught all of them in the bullpen. He's really consistent with all of them."

Yoon allowed allowed a leadoff single to Ramon Flores before getting a pair of flyouts and a groundout in the 11-pitch outing, eight of which were strikes.

"I knew I'd be nervous, but I pitched nine years in Korea, so overall I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be," he said. "I waited a long time to throw, so overall I'm relieved. I've been working hard for this day to come."

Yoon agreed to a three-year, $5.75 million contract with the Orioles earlier this spring and will likely start the season with Triple-A Norfolk. Manager Buck Showalter said Yoon will ideally get some multi-inning appearances before spring is through.

"I thought he threw the ball well, threw it over," Showalter said. "There's a lot of emotion flying around there.

"He presented himself. You think about the whirlwind he's had in his life the past two months."