Baltimore Orioles and a Story of Desire

March 25, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher

(27) congratulates shortstop

(2) after they retired the inning against the Boston Red Sox at

Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The headline makes it sound like some sort of love affair involving the Baltimore Orioles, and it is. A love affair with the game of baseball.

He has played for five different teams in his ten years in the major leagues.  That doesn’t include the years in the minors, five full years, not including one year for the independent York Revolution.

Mark Hendrickson is one of the tallest pitchers in the game of baseball at 6 foot 9.  If he was to make a major league roster in 2015, he would also be one of the oldest.

That’s right, Hendrickson showed up at the Orioles’ mini camp in Sarasota trying to earn an invite to spring training.

Hendrickson knows that invite will only come from one team.  His hometown team, and the manager who keeps giving him opportunities.  As reported by Roch Kubatko, Hendrickson has changed his arm slot several times at the recommendation of Buck Showalter.

Because he believes that by changing who he is, Hendrickson still has something to offer the Baltimore Orioles.

The big lefty has a few intangibles that make him intriguing. First, he is throwing from a side-arm delivery. Next, the fact that he is a lefty.  Add those two attributes, and his size together and it makes you think a little.

As he has reinvented himself, Hendrickson has seen success. In 2013 in the minors for the O’s at AAA Norfolk, Mark went 5-3, 3.06 ERA, 2.18 strikeouts/walk, 1.046 WHIP. Pretty good, right?

In 2014, for the Independent League York Revolution, Hendrickson went 2-0, 1.54 in 55 games, 3.09 strikeouts/walk, 0.968 WHIP.  Even better!

Granted, the level of competition is not the same.  But, Hendrickson believes with his unorthodox delivery, he has a shot at making the Orioles.

The new grandfather still has the desire to play ball, and now it is up to the O’s to see if he can carry that desire in to Spring Training.

I wouldn’t count him out.