Matt Bowman’s family has been through this before.
Bowman, a Chevy Chase native who’s pitched for four teams this season and seven in his career after Baltimore claimed him earlier this month, debuted for his new team Thursday night. He wasn’t sure if his family would make it to Camden Yards to see him pitch for the hometown squad despite how easy it would be to do so.
For them, the shine might have worn off.
“Family is very happy,” he said before he pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. “But at this point, it’s the fourth team I’ve been on, so they’re like, ‘Cool. How many blankets and hats can we buy?’”
Bowman’s experience isn’t unique. For many relief pitchers on the fringes of MLB rosters, constant travel, promotions and demotions are the way of life. Perhaps no player knows this better than Nick Vespi.
Vespi’s career has been a never-ending cycle of transactions. The toll it’s taken on the left-hander, who was promoted and pitched Thursday then optioned again Friday, grows heavier after each move. So does his numbness to it. He’s learned how to become comfortable amid all the uncertainty and grapple with his reality, staying ready for whenever his opportunity comes while knowing how long that chance lasts is out of his control.
He has no other choice.
“It’s definitely something I’ve been having to learn over the last three years,” Vespi said. “Just kind of figuring out what I need to do to stick up here.”
Thursday was Vespi’s 17th major league call-up. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the middle of the Astros lineup in the Orioles’ 6-0 loss to Houston, providing a ravaged bullpen with some immediate relief. Performances like Thursday’s are why the Orioles keep him one phone call away.
But most of his season hasn’t been in Baltimore. Vespi’s instead spent much of the past three years with Triple-A Norfolk, taking hours-long bus rides to away games and pitching in venues a fraction of the size of Camden Yards. Times like those remind him of the types of games he yearns to pitch in.
“Having that fire to be back up here is something you think about when you’re in a small city or you’re on that long bus ride,” the 28-year-old said. “Being up here is what I’ve been focused on since I could ever walk.”
Vespi will be out of minor league options after this season. Baltimore has used up all three, and Friday’s move marked the last time the Orioles can send him down this season without first subjecting him to waivers.
He’ll soon be done with this turbulent way of life. The Orioles won’t be able to move Vespi around as freely as they do now after this season. The left-hander knows that and is looking forward to a future where he can be a mainstay — in Baltimore or elsewhere.
Vespi has made 45 appearances for the Orioles over the past three seasons. His longest stint in the majors was from late July to early September of 2022. Otherwise, he hasn’t spent more than a couple weeks at a time with the club. He sports a career 3.88 ERA and a 2.92 mark in 11 games this year. That’s been enough to earn more opportunities, but being one of the few relievers in the organization with options left keeps him from becoming a fixture.
“I know it’s not the easiest to be shuffled back between Triple-A and the big leagues,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “But Nick’s always handled it like a pro and understands the situation. When you’re a reliever with options, sometimes that’s the role you’re in.”
Bowman, whose career has parallels to Vespi’s, is aware of his circumstances, too. Bowman’s switched teams as often as Vespi has changed levels. The 33-year-old right-hander spent the first three years of his career with the Cardinals, then one season each with the Reds and Yankees. This year, he’s pitched 11 total games with the Twins, Diamondbacks, Mariners and now the Orioles.
He was brought to Baltimore in the same flurry of transactions as Vespi on Thursday, when five pitchers in the organization were either recalled, optioned or designated for assignment. It was another reminder of how elusive bullpen stability can be this time of year.
Bowman, a reliever with below-average career totals, has failed to latch on anywhere. Maybe the Orioles will finally be that. If not, he’s gotten used to introducing himself to new clubhouses.
“Now it’s a lot easier,” he said. “Now, it feels very easy to switch organizations.”
For now, Bowman is still in Baltimore. Vespi is gone again and out of minor league options, meaning the next recall could be permanent. It’s unclear when that will be. He’ll be ready.