Bergesen starts for Spoone

Righty starter Brad Bergesen makes his Baysox debut this evening against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Bergesen replaces righty Chorye Spoone in the rotation for this start. Spoone was placed on the disabled list effective April 21 with a strained shoulder.

(Brad Bergesen – from baysox.com)

Bergesen is a smart, scrappy pitcher with strong control of a sinking fastball, a change-up and a slider. Through 17.1 innings in Frederick this year, he posted a 7.8 K/9, which was a significant improvement over his 6.4 K/9 through 332 innings from rookie ball to High A. Of course, his 3.12 BB/9 over the same period was nearly double his 1.60 BB/9 through the preceding 314.2 innings. 

(Interesting side-note. Minor League Baseball Analyst 2008 gave Bergesen a four out of five for his 88 to 94 mph fastball, a three out of five for his slider, and a one out of five for his change-up. Bergesen’s Orioles Hangout profile says that he has a good feel for his change-up, but stuggles at times with his slider.)

Update: Bergesen held the Fisher Cats to three hits and stuck out four through seven scoreless innings. It sounds as though he used his slider often and to good effect. (I listened to WGIR through milb.com.) April 25 – 8:21 p.m. EST