So far in 2022, the Orioles bullpen has been the land of misfit toys.
O’s GM Mike Elias has strung together a stellar bullpen that is full of former Rule 5 picks, longtime minor leaguers and a plethora of waiver claims.
On Tuesday, Elias added yet another waiver claim to the bullpen, this one being 32-year-old right-handed reliever, Louis Head.
Head has had a very long road to the majors, one that began in 2012 when he was drafted by the then-Cleveland Indians. Head hovered around Cleveland’s minor league system until 2018. In 2019, Head was a member of the Dodgers system before he landed with Tampa Bay in 2021.
Head’s long-awaited major league debut finally came in 2021 with the Rays. And believe it or not, it was a stellar debut.
In his first season in the bigs, Head pitched 35 innings to a tune of a 2.31 ERA and 32 strikeouts. He was very dominant in that season, as he finished with a WHIP of 0.857 and a 174 ERA+.
He also had a FIP (fielding independent pitching) of 3.11, which measures a pitcher’s efficiency in outcomes he has the most control over. The lower this number, the better. A 3.11 is pretty good and proves he was creating the success himself, not just with the help of a good Tampa Bay defense.
The year 2022 has seen a different side of Head, one that currently holds a 7.23 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched. His numbers are up in literally every category, and it is apparent as to why he was designated for assignment.
However, there is promise in the arm of this right-hander, promise in which a pitching coach like Chris Holt very well may be able to tap into, much like we have seen with Félix Bautista, Austin Voth and Jorge López.
Head is currently on the 15-day IL, and it is assumed he will join the team when that stint ends. He was slated to start his rehab assignment with Miami’s Triple-A affiliate July 12 before being designated for assignment.
Welcome to Birdland, Louis!
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