SARASOTA—The Orioles optioned DL Hall to minor league camp after Sunday’s game. Hall, the 24-year-old left-hander who is rated as the second best pitching prospect in the organization, got a late start this spring because of a back injury.
Hall pitched in just two games. He allowed three runs, two unearned, on three hits in 1 2/3 innings against Philadelphia on March 20th and on Saturday night, he gave up a run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings against Pittsburgh.
In four innings, he struck out seven and walked three.
Last season, Hall made his major league debut as a starter on August 13th at Tampa Bay and after allowing five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings, he was returned to Norfolk and recalled on September 1st as a reliever. Hall ended the season 1-1 with a 5.93 ERA and one save.
The Orioles want him to build himself up as a starter in the minor leagues before he’s recalled.
“He had a shortened spring training,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He threw the ball great. We’re really happy with the progress he made. I loved the way he threw the ball all spring training when he was out there. I want to give him a few more innings and build him a little bit more.”
Hyde didn’t want to put Hall in the bullpen.
“It’s hard to build guys in the bullpen because you don’t know what’s going to happen night to night,” Hyde said. “We felt the best thing for him right now was to keep him as a starter and get him stretched him out more.”
Hyde expects to see Hall again in the near future.
“I think it’s just a matter of time for him,” Hyde said. “Our conversation with him went … we were super happy with how he threw the ball this spring and loved the progress he’s made. None of these guys want to hear that they’re not breaking with us. I think he took it like a pro.”
Besides Hall, the Orioles optioned right-handers Yennier Cano and Spenser Watkins to minor league camp. The Orioles still have 41 players on their spring training roster.
Cano was 2-0 with a 5.14 ERA in seven games. He struck out 10 batters and didn’t walk any. Watkins, who spent much of the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Orioles, had a 4.15 ERA in four games, striking out 10, walking four in 14 innings.
“We’re happy to have Spenser in Triple-A for us,” Hyde said. “We’re going to need more than five starters. I just want him to stay ready.”