Let’s see, SAL Pitcher of the Week for May 24-30 …check.
Orioles Organizational Pitcher of the Month …check.
All right, all right…I’ll name Nathan Moreau Shorebird of the Week. Twist my arm, why don’t you.
Shorebird fans should be familiar with Nathan since this his second tour of duty with the team, having spent the 2009 season here. In fact, given his pretty decent numbers here last year (5-3, 3,61, 95 strikeouts and 43 walks in 87 1/3 innings) I was surprised that not only did he get sent back here but was relegated to the bullpen. Obviously Nathan’s pitching with a chip on his shoulder from the snubs.
In May Moreau was unhittable, giving up just 10 hits in 25 innings pitched and one measly run, fanning 33 and walking just five. The one-hit performance against Lakewood in his last start over 6 innings likely earned him the SAL nod and maybe, just maybe, convinced the Orioles brass that he’s ready for the next level.
For the season, Nathan has lowered his numbers from a rough April (0-2, 9.00 in 12 innings) to 1-2 and a 3.16 ERA in 37 innings. The 23-year-old Georgian boasts a 48-16 strikeout to walk ratio and a fine 1.16 WHIP.
With the annual organizational transition coming later this month (as rookie league teams get started and standings at Delmarva and Frederick are reset for the second half) it wouldn’t be a shock to see Moreau promoted to Frederick to try his luck against the Carolina League.
