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MOOSIC — Matt Wotherspoon’s back in town.
However, it isn’t after a road trip with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders or after a stint with Double-A Trenton, but with a new team. A new organization.
The Crestwood grad comes to PNC Field as the visitor, with the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. And the Tides couldn’t be happier to have him.
“He’s been very impressive for us,” Norfolk manager Ron Johnson said. “He’s been in four games with us and we’re really excited to have him here. I think Matt is viewed as a piece for us — or bullpen — in Baltimore and I think if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’ll have an opportunity.”
Wotherspoon was pitching well for the RailRiders before he was traded on July 2. The Pitt alum pitched 12 innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and allowed just three runs. He had arguably the best outing of his professional career just before he was traded, throwing three perfect innings with four strikeouts in Syracuse on June 28.
Now with the Tides, Wotherspoon sports a 2.84 ERA in four appearances.
“In general, I feel like I’m throwing the ball really well at this point in the season,” Wotherspoon said. “My last three, four outings have been really, really good and I feel like my stuff’s pretty good right now.”
Norfolk has used Wotherspoon in high-pressure situations out of the bullpen lately. While Johnson said the Tides often don’t stick their relievers to one-inning roles, which eliminates the closer role to a degree, the Mountain Top native has still been tested.
Each of his last two innings he’s come out of the bullpen with men on base, including with the bases loaded on Sunday.
“I’ve been used in a couple different spots now,” Wotherspoon said. “I’m throwing the ball pretty well. I got touched up a little bit (Sunday) — gave up a homer there to tie it up — but yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about the way I’m throwing the baseball.
Now with the Orioles, Wotherspoon’s future looks bright.
He’s already garnered some attention from the movers and shakers in Baltimore. If Wotherspoon continues to pitch the way he has been lately, his first big-league callup could be on the horizon.
“He strikes people out and he doesn’t walk people, and those are two huge things if you’re going to pitch in the big leagues,” Johnson said. “We were really surprised to see him come from within the division, but I know (Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations) Dan Duquette and (manager) Buck (Showalter) — I’ve talked to both of them — and they’re pleasantly intrigued.”
Even though Wotherspoon pitched against Durham on Sunday, he said he could appear in Wednesday’s matinee. The way things have been going, the 25-year-old right-hander said he often pitches one day and takes the next two off before returning to the mound.
“Absolutely, it’ll be fun,” he said. “I think if I get that opportunity (to pitch here) I’ll be looking forward to it.”