Orioles pitching prospect Noah Denoyer finished the minor league season on a high note before joining the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.
Denoyer, 24, appeared in 21 games (five starts and 16 relief appearances) in 2022, posting a 2.89 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP in 71.2 innings with 99 strikeouts and 17 walks. He originally signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 MLB Draft.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-handed pitcher started the season with High-A Aberdeen before being promoted to Double-A Bowie in May. He made brief rehab stints at the Florida Complex League and in Aberdeen in mid-August, then returned to Bowie to finish the season.
Denoyer flourished with the Baysox. He managed a 2.61 ERA and 0.79 WHIP while punching out 69 and allowing just 11 walks, mostly in a long relief role. Denoyer felt comfortable with his role despite having started in 11 of his 20 outings in 2021. Pitching is pitching regardless of the role, according to Denoyer. It is all about preparation and consistency.
“It’s just all focus and not trying to do too much [outside of] you’re normal routine,” Denoyer said on Glenn Clark Radio Sept. 7, prior to the Orioles’ announcement that Denoyer was heading to Arizona following the season. “I kind of stick to my starter routine for the most part if I know I’m going to be going multiple innings that night. When I get ready, just try to get in there and attack the strike zone early.”
Denoyer attributes his success this year to the development of his secondary pitches. He acknowledged the importance of setting up pitches later in counts.
“I’ve always had my curveball for the most part,” Denoyer said. “It’s really just [about] trying to set up [the curveball] to have success later in the counts with it. I’ve been working on a slider, trying to throw that in the strike zone early — same thing with the splitter I’ve been throwing. Just trying to set up my curveball for later in the counts and trying to get swings and misses.”
Denoyer has been impressed with the Orioles minor league system and praised his pitching coaches and teammates. The high level of communication between pitching coaches and pitchers seems to be leading to success in the entire organization.
“It’s actually pretty cool what [the coaches] do,” Denoyer said. “Our pitching coaches at every level communicate with us every week, before and after our outings, looking at our numbers. Then from a bigger standpoint, they go over what we need to work on to either increase velocity or deficiencies we have in our mechanics. [They also go over] pitches they’d like to see developed as well, and usually that’s what we try and attack in the offseason, but if you’re able to do it in season and have success in developing your stuff, that’s even better.”
Denoyer also takes inspiration from Orioles breakout starter Dean Kremer. Denoyer and Kremer both played junior college ball at San Joaquin Delta College in California (Kremer in 2015 and Denoyer later). Denoyer said the two have known each other for some time and were throwing partners during the 2020 COVID year.
Denoyer has enjoyed watching Kremer rise from the JUCO level to the major leagues. Kremer, 26, posted a 3.23 ERA in 125.1 innings for the Orioles this year.
“It’s awesome,” Denoyer said of Kremer’s success. “Just seeing another junior college guy be able to make it and pitch at the highest level is inspiring. Also seeing his development over the years from the outside looking in, it’s pretty cool. I’ve seen him develop his cutter and his changeup, everything. Him having success now is inspiring.”
Denoyer was assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League toward the end of the minor league season. He is joined by infielder Cesar Prieto, outfielders Heston Kjerstad and Reed Trimble and pitchers Nick Richmond and Nolan Hoffman from the Orioles organization.
The AFL is a six-team league that runs from Oct. 3 to Nov. 12. All 30 clubs send a handful of prospects to Arizona to fill out the rosters. Denoyer made his debut Oct. 5, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five and walking two in 2.2 innings.
“I feel like I am getting closer to the [major leagues]. I think being more consistent with all my off-speed pitches and keep replicating what I’m doing out there on the mound [while] at the same time throwing my pitches and keep having success,” Denoyer said of his developmental goals.
For more from Denoyer, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles