CLEVELAND -- The Orioles’ bullpen has gotten off to a strong start this season, and now they’re adding another exciting, young arm to the mix.
Prior to Thursday’s series opener at Cleveland, Baltimore recalled right-hander Cameron Foster from Triple-A Norfolk for his first big league call-up. The O’s optioned catcher Maverick Handley to Triple-A, getting back to 13 position players and 13 pitchers on their active roster.
Foster, 27, was acquired by the Orioles last July 25 from the Mets in the Trade Deadline deal that sent left-hander Gregory Soto to New York. Foster had a 3.38 ERA in 13 appearances for Norfolk after the trade last season.
After getting added to Baltimore’s 40-man roster during the offseason, Foster had a tremendous spring, tossing five scoreless innings over five Grapefruit League appearances. He had a 10.50 ERA in six innings over six Triple-A outings this year.
"The first thing that stands out is the stuff," manager Craig Albernaz said. "The stuff is real. It's a real, quality heater, and his slider is elite. Cam, just like any other pitcher, it's the efficiency of his pitches, especially in the bullpen. He has to attack the strike zone. Where Cam gets into trouble is, just like any pitcher, where you're inefficient and fall behind guys. So when Cam is relentless in the strike zone, that's where he's at his best."
Foster learned he was getting called up Wednesday, when Norfolk manager Tim Federowicz shared the news.
"I saw the game yesterday, and I was like, 'Oh, they could use some arms.' And I was like, 'Hopefully, I'm the next guy up. That's where I want to be,'" Foster said. "When Fed told me, I was just super pumped."
The O’s 3.62 bullpen ERA entering Thursday ranked fifth in the American League. If Foster reaches his potential, he could become another key contributor for that unit.
In another move, the Orioles traded right-hander Chayce McDermott to the Dodgers in exchange for Minor League righty Axel Perez. McDermott had been designated for assignment last Saturday.
Baltimore’s No. 4 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) entering the 2025 season, McDermott had a 12.79 ERA in five MLB games (two starts) across ‘24 and ‘25. The 27-year-old was converted from a starter to a reliever over the past year, but he had a 6.75 ERA in five appearances for Norfolk this year.
Perez is a 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic who pitched in 10 games (nine starts) for the Dodgers’ Dominican Summer League team last year.