Orioles starting pitching prospect Kevin Gausman received his first opportunity to start in the spring Thursday, and he struggled with his control early. Gausman, who is not expected to break camp with the team after pitching just 15 minor-league innings last season, could not make it through three innings in the start. He finished the start with two runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings. Gausman walked the first two batters he faced in the game and finished with three, but the No. 4 overall selection in last year's draft told the Baltimore Sun that nerves were not a concern.
“I don’t think it was nerves. That first batter, I threw some great pitches. All those pitches are low, and that’s what you try to stay at the bottom half of the zone,” he said. ”I definitely wasn’t as nervous as I was before.”
Gausman packs high-90’s heat but threw just 34 of his 54 pitches for strikes, with a pair of strikeouts in the outing. Gausman has 11 strikeouts and five walks in 10 1/3 innings this spring, with a 3.48 ERA over five appearances.