Matusz signed too late to join an Orioles minor league affiliate in 2008 and is likely to begin 2009 at Class A Frederick or Class AA Bowie. But the signs he's flashed in big-league camp suggest he's not long for the minors.

Through his first 4 2/3 innings of spring training, Matusz had yet to allow a run.

Matusz pitched three shutout innings of relief against the Marlins in a 5-2 win March 5, much of it with a club-mandated restriction: throw no curveballs.

"The third time he went out there, we took his curveball away from him because he's so good with his curveball, he's going to fall in love with it," manager Dave Trembley told the Baltimore Sun. "For his development and ours, it's fastball/changeup, but he's had -- obviously -- a very nice spring."

With a good debut in the minors, Matusz could tempt the Orioles to give him a September call-up. But they're likely to allow the former University of San Diego ace to adapt slowly, with the timetable of reaching Baltimore by 2010.

By next spring, the Orioles will be looking at a rotation that potentially could include Matusz, and fellow prospects Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta, as well as rotation holdovers Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara.