Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that pitching prospect Chayce McDermott (lat) threw a light side session at camp on Tuesday. McDermott, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is coming along slowly in his throwing program after being originally diagnosed with a mild lat strain at spring training. The 26-year-old right-hander is fully expected to join Triple-A Norfolk to begin the 2025 season whenever he's cleared for game action. He stands at 6-foot-3, 197 pounds and was the fourth-round pick by the Houston Astros in 2021 out of Ball State University. McDermott's fastball-slider combination generates plenty of strikeouts (over 30%) in his time at Triple-A, which makes him an interesting pitching prospect to speculate on in fantasy. He should return to Baltimore at some point in 2025 after starting one game in 2024, but his lack of control of his secondary stuff will limit his upside.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Chayce McDermott (lat) still hasn't been cleared to begin baseball activities in camp but said on Tuesday that he feels "really good" after reporting to spring training with a mild left-teres train. He doesn't know when he'll begin a throwing progression, though, which means he may not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. Baseball America ranks McDermott as the team's No. 5 prospect after he made just one start in his big-league debut in 2024. He was already likely facing an uphill climb this year to make the Opening Day roster, and his lat injury probably means he'll begin the year back in Triple-A Norfolk's starting rotation. In 100 innings for Norfolk a year ago, McDermott had a 3.78 ERA with 144 strikeouts and 60 walks. He has plenty of swing-and-miss stuff but also can be pretty wild.
Chayce McDermott Suffers Lat Strain, Briefly Shut Down
According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles starting pitching prospect Chayce McDermott (lat) sustained a mild lat/teres strain and is being briefly shut down. Meyer noted that McDermott will begin a throwing program in 10-14 days. Given this setback, McDermott will face an uphill battle to have a chance to make the Opening Day roster. Last season, McDermott was given one start in the major leagues. Across his first four MLB frames, the No. 5 ranked prospect in the system allowed three earned runs. He spent the majority of the campaign with Triple-A Norfolk, where he logged 100 innings to the tune of a 3.78 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He tallied 144 punchouts and served up 60 free passes. Fantasy managers should expect the Ball State product to open the season the season with Triple-A but will likely be given a call to the majors later in the summer.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott earned a no-decision in his big-league debut on Wednesday versus the Miami Marlins. The 25-year-old tossed four innings and allowed five hits, three runs, two walks and struck out three on the evening. It was mixed results for the right-hander, who has been a strikeout machine for Triple-A Bowie this season. Much of his success for Bowie this season was dependent on getting out of jams via the strikeout, but the big leagues are a whole different ballgame and hitters will take advantage when they can. With the trade deadline approaching, that will likely determine where McDermott will spend the majority of the second half, but he is tentatively lined up to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. For now, McDermott is more of a wait and see in deeper mixed leagues.
Chayce McDermott Expected To Make MLB Debut On Wednesday
The Baltimore Orioles haven't named a starting pitcher for Wednesday's contest against the Miami Marlins, but there's a strong chance that right-handed pitching prospect Chayce McDermott will get the nod in what will be his major-league debut. The O's already added McDermott, the team's No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, to their taxi squad this week. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2021 out of Ball State has gone 3-5 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 129 strikeouts and 54 walks in 91 innings over 20 outings (19 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder has would be in line for an excellent matchup from a fantasy perspective, but he could be sent right back down to the minors after his big-league debut. McDermott primarily relies on a mid-90s heater and a sweepy slider while also utilizing a work-in-progress curve and changeup. He's going to need to show better control in order to have success in the majors. UPDATE: McDermott will officially make his MLB debut and start on Wednesday in Miami.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott allowed four runs on two hits and three walks on Saturday against the Durham Bulls. He managed to get just one out, which came via strikeout. Prior to this start, he'd posted a 3.00 ERA and 46:17 K:BB since the start of June. However, Saturday's outing caused his season ERA to jump from 3.58 to 4.00. Currently Baltimore's No. 7 prospect (per MLB.com), McDermott is expected to make his MLB debut later this year.
Chayce McDermott Racks Up 12 More K's For Triple-A Norfolk
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott put together a strong performance on Monday for Triple-A Norfolk. McDermott tossed seven innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits with three walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts. McDermott's 12 strikeouts push his season total to 121 in 83 innings. Walks have been an issue for the right-hander this season, but his ability to strikeout opposing batters has saved him in many situations and helped him keep a steady 3.58 ERA for the season. With fellow pitching prospect Cade Povich already on the big-league roster, McDermott could be next in line, should the Orioles need an arm for their rotation. McDermott is worth rostering in dynasty leagues, but due to his high WHIP of 1.40, he would be more of a streaming option in redraft leagues, specifically for strikeouts.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott has put together a strong season on the hill for Triple-A Norfolk. The club's No. 8 prospect has suited up for 10 games (nine games) and has been a strikeout machine for Norfolk. McDermott has a healthy 3.77 ERA and more impressive has 67 strikeouts in 43 innings. As dominant as the strikeouts are, McDermott has struggled with command at points with a 1.47 WHIP. However, over his last four starts, the right-hander has struck out 37 batters with just four walks, but 18 hits. McDermott has been able to get out of a lot of jams with his ability strike batters out and the Orioles could be calling his name soon with John Means (forearm) and Dean Kremer (oblique) both sidelined. McDermott offers strikeout potential, but is more of a wait-and-see prospect if promoted this season.
Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Chayce McDermott, dealt from Houston to Baltimore in the Trey Mancini trade, is a former fourth-round pick who gets good velocity behind his fastball, slider, and curveball. The jury is still out on whether McDermott will be a starter or reliever in Baltimore, but he can help his case by developing a fourth offering (changeup) and drastically improving his control. Pitching last Friday, McDermott went 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs, zero hits, and just two walks. He also attacked the strike zone, finishing his outing with a whopping 11 strikeouts, good for an average of 1.65 per inning.
Chayce McDermott Leads The Way In Combined No-Hitter
Baltimore Orioles starting pitching prospect Chayce McDermott led the way on Friday evening with 6 2/3 clean innings to combine for a no-hitter with relief pitchers Nolan Hoffman and Kaleb Ort. McDermott struck out 11 batters and allowed just two free passes. Hoffman and Ort did not allow any baserunners. This incredible outing lowered McDermott's ratios to a solid 2.89 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 41 punchouts across 28 innings. The 25-year-old southpaw has gone under the radar this season with Triple-A Norfolk due to the emerging stars on the offensive side of the team. Nonetheless, McDermott should be expected to make his major-league debut later in the summer and may be worth picking up in AL-only leagues when he is promoted.
Chayce McDermott
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Orioles
