Growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Carter Baumler remembers getting embarrassed on the basketball court multiple times by Iowa star Caitlin Clark as well as serving as the punter at Dowling Catholic High School.
But Baumler ultimately chose baseball over basketball and football, and at 21 years old, he finds himself in the Orioles organization. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander posted a 3.18 ERA with 21 strikeouts and nine walks across 17 innings in the Florida Complex League and Low-A this summer.
Baumler has had his fair share of injuries, including Tommy John surgery and a recent shoulder surgery, limiting him to 28.2 career innings. He is now making up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League.
“You go through any surgery, it doesn’t matter what it is … it’s always a little scary, but you’ve just have to be patient with it. When you make that decision, it’s something you make for the long term,” Baumler said on the Glenn Clark Radio Show Oct. 24. “That’s what me and my family did and the Orioles did. Glad I made it.”
While Baumler’s injuries have set him back and prevented him from playing baseball, he sees a silver lining in it and is using it as motivation to come back stronger than ever.
“Coming out of high school, as soon as I get drafted I’m like, ‘Let’s freaking do this thing. I’m ready to pitch, I’m ready to face some good competition, showcase who I am.’ When you run into a couple of injuries, it sets you back,” Baumler said. “And it is tough mentally because you want to be out there playing. You see other people playing. But it’s motivation. You can’t let it bog you down, you have to keep firing on all cylinders and keep going. You have to stay patient, keep grinding.”
Baumler is currently out West playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. The league gives Baumler a chance to pitch against minor league hitters from all over pro ball.
“That was part of the decision for the Orioles bringing me out here. I know that I can compete at a very high level,” Baumler said. “They wanted me to come out here and face some good competition. That way, I go into the offseason with some good confidence and put some good work in before next year.”
Baumler is excited for the future of the Orioles based on the success of players like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Baumler had the chance to connect with them shortly after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
“It’s super exciting,” Baumler said. “Seeing what they’re doing in the show, seeing how the entire Orioles big league team has turned things around, kind of caught everybody off guard this year.”
Most did not expect the Orioles to make the playoffs this year, let alone be the top seed in the American League. But the talent developed in the farm system has made it to the big leagues, and Baumler is ready to be a part of it.
“I know that in the next two, three years when I get up there, we’re going to be competing. My role is going to play a big part. It’s super exciting,” Baumler said. “I tune for just about every game, as many as I can, and it’s really cool to watch.”
For more from Baumler, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles