Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles on Monday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Vespi is just now returning from sports hernia surgery that he underwent in January, and the southpaw will need more time to get ready for the regular season. The 27-year-old will likely be an up-and-down option for Baltimore throughout the 2023 campaign.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Set to pitch Monday
Rotowire
Vespi (abdomen) said he's scheduled to pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 27-year-old underwent sports hernia surgery in early January but is now in the final stages of his rehab program. Vespi's spring debut will be a good sign for his potential availability Opening Day, though he'll likely need to show he can pitch on back-to-back days before being fully cleared. He had a 4.10 ERA across 26.1 innings during his first taste of the majors in 2022, so he's hardly guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster even when healthy.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Sim game coming up
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Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Vespi (sports hernia) is slated to throw a simulated game next week, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
After Vespi threw a 35-pitch bullpen session last Friday, there had been some hope that he would be cleared to face hitters this week, but the Orioles will instead continue to take things slowly with the lefty reliever for a few more days. With the Orioles providing no indication that he has suffered a setback in his recovery from the sports hernia surgery he underwent Jan. 5, Vespi still looks on pace to get fully ramped up by the time Opening Day arrives. However, since Vespi doesn't have an extensive track record in the majors and still has two minor-league options remaining, it wouldn't be surprising if the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk before heading north for the start of the regular season.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Nearing game action
Rotowire
Vespi (abdomen) threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and appears set to advance to facing hitters next week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Vespi mixed in all of his pitches during Friday's bullpen session. "I'm right where I need to be," he said. "Everything feels great. My arm feels great, my body feels great. I'm ready to go." Despite the delayed start this year, Vespi is still in contention for a bullpen spot, as he should have at least a couple of Grapefruit League appearances before the regular season begins. It'll likely come down to his performance in those games that determines if he begins the campaign with the Orioles or at Triple-A Norfolk.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Tosses first post-surgery bullpen
Rotowire
Vespi (sports hernia) completed a fastball-only bullpen session Tuesday consisting of 20-to-25 pitches, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The bullpen session marked Vespi's first mound work since he underwent surgery Jan. 5 to address a sports hernia. Though the reliever isn't expected to be available for the early part of the Orioles' Grapefruit League schedule while he advances through a throwing progression, both Vespi and manager Brandon Hyde have reiterated that they expect the 27-year-old southpaw will be ready to go for Opening Day.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Looking good for Opening Day
Rotowire
Vespi (abdomen) expects to be ready for Opening Day, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Vespi underwent sports hernia surgery in early January, and he appears to be progressing well. Recovery from the procedure will prevent him from pitching for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, but he doesn't expect to be limited beyond that.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Undergoes successful surgery
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Vespi underwent successful hernia surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Vespi will begin a rehab process in Sarasota next week, and he's expected to be ready to return to game action early in the 2023 season. The southpaw made his major-league debut in 2022 and posted a 4.10 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 26.1 innings over 25 appearances with the Orioles.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Joins O's for twin bill
Rotowire
The Orioles recalled Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk and designated him as their 29th man for Wednesday's doubleheader with the Blue Jays, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Vespi will give the Orioles some extra coverage out of the bullpen as the team wraps up its season with a twin bill. In 24 relief appearances with Baltimore on the season, the 26-year-old rookie owns a 4.21 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 25.2 innings.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
Vespi pitched each of the last three days, so the Orioles decided to send him down and replace him with a fresh arm. Vespi has appeared in 24 games with the Orioles this season, so chances are he will be back with the big club before the campaign comes to a close.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Awarded win Friday
Rotowire
Vespi (5-0) allowed a run on three hits in one inning but collected the win Friday over the Red Sox. He did not walk or strike out a batter.
Vespi was promoted to the majors earlier Friday and immediately got into a game. He was awarded the win after Keegan Akin allowed five unearned runs during a sloppy fifth inning. Vespi has been an effective middle reliever this year with a 4.22 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 21.1 innings while adding a save, a hold and a blown save. With the strength of the Orioles' bullpen, there's little chance Vespi moves into a high-leverage role during this stint on the big-league roster.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Called up Friday
Rotowire
Vespi was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.
Vespi will return to the big leagues after being sent down Saturday. The left-hander has produced a 3.98 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 24 punchouts over 20.1 innings in 18 appearances with the Orioles this season. Since the beginning of July, Vespi has compiled a 2.08 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 8.2 frames in eight games with Baltimore.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Sent down Saturday
Rotowire
Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.
Vespi was recalled by the Orioles in late July, and he posted a 1.29 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in seven innings over six appearances during his time on the major-league roster. He struck out 11, logged a 2-0 record and picked up a hold during his stint in the Orioles' bullpen but will head back to the minors after DL Hall was called up prior to Saturday's start.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Collects fourth win
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Vespi (4-0) earned the win Tuesday over the Blue Jays. He struck out both batters he faced.
Louis Head allowed a pair of singles to begin the eighth inning, but Vespi was able to strike out Raimel Tapia and Teoscar Hernandez to end the threat. Vespi then fell in line for the win when Rougned Odor put the Orioles ahead in the bottom of the eighth. Vespi's season-long numbers are skewed by a six-run mishap in late June -- in his last five appearances, he's surrendered one run across 6.2 innings while collecting two wins and a hold. The southpaw's presence in a one-run contest Tuesday suggests he's working his way up the leverage ladder, though he's unlikely to be in serious contention for regular save chances as Felix Bautista continues to impress in the closer role.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Orioles recalled Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
He'll fill the opening on the 26-man active roster that was created when closer Jorge Lopez was dealt to Minnesota earlier Tuesday for four minor-league pitchers. The departure of Lopez should pave the way for Felix Bautista to take over as the Orioles' closer, while Vespi is expected to settle into a middle-relief role while he's up with the big club. Over his previous 14 appearances with Baltimore spanning 16.1 innings, Vespi has generated a 4.41 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.
Vespi picked up a save in late June since a game was called after six complete innings, but he served mainly as a middle reliever during his time in the Orioles' bullpen. The southpaw made 11 relief appearances during his month with the major-league club and posted a 6.35 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 11.1 innings. Right-hander Beau Sulser was called up to take his place in the bullpen.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Lucks into save
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Vespi walked one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's rain-shortened 7-0 win over the Nationals.
The teams played six complete innings, with Vespi protecting a three-run lead in the top of the sixth before the Orioles put together a four-run rally in their half of the frame. The game was later called due to rain, making this a bizarre first career save for Vespi. While it's yet to come to fruition, the 26-year-old southpaw has certainly earned a look in more significant spots with a 0.87 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings in eight appearances. He'll likely see mid-leverage work at most, as the Orioles' bullpen has been a strength for the team this season.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Gives up first run Thursday
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Vespi allowed a run on one hit and struck out two in 1.1 innings during Thursday's 10-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Vespi allowed a double to Bradley Zimmer in the eighth inning, and Austin Voth allowed the inherited runner to score. This was the first run Vespi's given up in five major-league appearances this season. He now holds a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB with a 1-0 record across seven innings. He's not expected to contend for much high-leverage work, but the southpaw has been effective when called upon.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Vespi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
After being sent down to Triple-A on May 21, Vespi will make his return to the big leagues Friday. The 26-year-old tossed two scoreless innings in his major-league debut May 20 versus the Rays, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out three. Vespi will operate as a bullpen option and has a chance to stick around with Joey Krehbiel (shoulder) banged up right now.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.
Vespi made his major-league debut Friday against the Rays and earned the win after striking out three in two scoreless relief innings. However, he'll head back to the minors for now. As long as he continues to perform well in Norfolk, Vespi should rejoin the Orioles at some point.
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Orioles' Nick Vespi: Picks up win in major-league debut
Rotowire
Vespi (1-0) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out three in two scoreless innings to earn the win over the Rays on Friday.
Vespi entered Friday's game in the 12th inning to make his major-league debut, and he held the Rays scoreless in spite of the ghost runner in each inning. The southpaw got some help since Wander Franco (quadriceps) was unable to slide into home on a close play at the plate in the top of the 13th inning, but Vespi was still rewarded with a win following his strong outing. The 26-year-old made 12 relief appearances at Triple-A Norfolk this year and struck out 21 batters with a 0.64 WHIP in 14.1 scoreless innings.
