Brad Bergesen's No. 64 jersey had him looking out of place. His big league debut would suggest otherwise.
Bergesen, 23, went 5 2/3 innings Tuesday, allowing just one earned run and four hits in the Orioles' 10-3 win against the Chicago White Sox. He left to a standing ovation from the sparse home crowd and approvingly pounded his hand into his glove as he reached the top step of the dugout. Before the game, Orioles management made it clear Bergesen was not in town for a spot start. His debut backed up the disclaimer: Bergesen is in the rotation.
The 2008 Orioles minor league pitcher of the year was 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts for Class AAA Norfolk before he was recalled. A finesse pitcher, Bergesen is not the highest regarded of the Orioles' pitching prospects, but he's the most prepared. He was drafted in 2004 and climbed the organizational ladder slowly.
With Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara as the lone proven commodities in the rotation, Bergesen will put pressure on journeymen Mark Hendrickson and Adam Eaton to prove they deserve their spots. If they can't, prospects David Hernandez and Chris Tillman aren't far behind.
ORIOLES 10, WHITE SOX 3: The return home was good for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday. Right-hander Brad Bergesen got the win in his big-league debut, helped by a two-homer night from Aubrey Huff and a 4-for-4 game from Nick Markakis.
