Bullpen trade presented opportunity for Bryan Baker

When O’s right-hander Bryan Baker woke up on the morning of April 3, he didn’t know his chance to both make and impact the O’s 2022 bullpen would be greater by the end of that day.
 
But when Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser were traded to Miami, that meant opportunity and innings would open up for someone else. Baker thought, “Why not me?”
 
“Yeah, definitely,” he said during an interview at the ballpark on Monday. “It was something I didn’t see coming at all. But once I kind of wrapped my head around it and realized where I was going to be, I think it was mainly joy to know I could take advantage of an opportunity and maybe help the club win some games.”
 
And the 27-year-old Baker pitched twice in the series versus Tampa Bay, throwing two innings and allowing one hit and one run with three strikeouts. He showed a 93, 94 mph fastball and decent slider.
 
It was in November when he first realized a good chance to pitch in the majors could be coming. He was claimed on waivers from Toronto by Baltimore. This followed his very strong 2021 season at Triple-A for the Blue Jays in which he went 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA, allowing just 18 hits over 41 1/3 innings to produce a WHIP of 0.847. The 11^th-round pick of Colorado in the 2016 draft was going to a new club, but he was on the O’s 40-man roster and he knew that could mean more big league time this season.
 
“Yeah, 100 percent. I got my foot in the door last year and had a really good year,” Baker said. “Being able to come over here I think it’s about taking advantage of these opportunities.”
 
And getting in two games early versus the Rays was a positive, too, as he gets his season going with his new club.
 
“I think it really helps,” Baker said. “Just kind of building off what I was doing in spring training. Just trying to go right at hitters. Being a Florida boy (from Fort Walton Beach), I guess I had a little bit of a comfort zone there in Tampa, but nice to get in a couple of games and get the season rolling.”
 
I asked him how his pitching looks when it’s going well for him.
 
“Going right at hitters, getting ahead in the count and then finish them with one of the three pitches that I have,” he replied. “Being able to elevate the fastball and get some punchouts with that. Mixing in the slider and getting some grounders as well. Just go right at guys and throw strikes.”
 
Now he’s starting to settle in for what he hopes will be a long run in the Orioles bullpen, which has pitched to a 2.45 ERA in the season’s first four games. He’s learning his new teammates and fitting in well.
 
“It’s pretty fun, man,” Baker said. “I didn’t really know anybody until I got here, but it’s been a pretty good month or so being around them. Getting to know everybody. It’s been really fun so far.”