FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -Three seasons ago, Hayden Penn became the 29th pitcher in the history of the Baltimore Orioles to make his major league debut before the age of 21.
That, unfortunately, remains the highlight of his luckless career as a professional baseball player.
In May 2006, the right-hander was called up from the minor leagues to start at Seattle. He never made it to the ballpark. Instead, Penn had to have an emergency appendectomy and spent the next seven weeks on the disabled list.
Last season wasn’t much better. Penn entered spring training with right elbow stiffness, struggled through an unproductive camp and on May 2 had surgery to remove bone spurs. He didn’t return until August and made three starts with Triple-A Norfolk before calling it a season.
This spring, Penn is trying to make the Orioles as a fifth starter or long reliever. He’s healthy, and forgive him if he knocks on wood to celebrate the occasion. If he stays fit and puts up some decent statistics, Penn just might start the season in the majors for the first time.
“I think it’s going to take a little bit of everything,” he said. “Numbers never hurt, showing that I’m healthy, showing that I can pitch on short rest, whatever they need me to do.”
A year ago, Penn had a sore arm and was trying to impress manager Sam Perlozzo and pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Now his arm is sound, Dave Trembley is the manager and his pitching coach is Rick Kranitz. Change can be good, especially for a pitcher whose lifetime numbers in the majors are three wins, six losses and a 9.31 ERA.
“It’s kind of a new slate around here for everybody. I kind of feel that way,” Penn said. “I’m just trying to show these guys that I can pitch at this level.”
Trembley knows Penn can pitch at the Triple-A level. He was the manager at Ottawa in 2006 when Penn was summoned to Seattle, and Trembley was Baltimore’s bullpen coach last March when Penn tried to pitch with an arm that obviously wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent.
“He was ready to go and on the flight out to Seattle, then had the appendectomy. I thought he was ready then,” Trembley said. “What I’ve seen from him this spring is far and away much better than when I saw him last year in camp. I think he was a case where there was something wrong with his arm and he wasn’t telling anybody. Finally, he got that taken care of.”
No more excuses. Penn is healthy and throwing well, as evidenced by the scoreless inning he had Sunday against the Florida Marlins that lowered his ERA to 2.25.
“I don’t know what role I would be in, but I feel I have a chance to make this team,” he said. “I worked hard this offseason to get in good shape.”
Penn made his debut with Baltimore in 2005, but was too young to legally celebrate the occasion by drinking a beer. He made eight starts in two stints, going 3-2 with a 6.34 ERA.
He started the following season in the minor leagues, and finally made it to Baltimore in September after his recovery from the appendectomy. Then came last year, in which he spent more time in rehab than on the mound.
“Surgery changed me. I’m a new guy, now,” he said. “Obviously, getting here at 20, that was the best case. Getting here and staying here? It doesn’t always work out that way.”
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