Orioles LHP DL Hall recalled for major league debut

The Baltimore Orioles officially called up top pitching prospect DL Hall and the left-hander will make his major league debut in Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Nick Vespi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Hall, 23, was the No. 21 overall selection in the 2017 MLB draft by the Orioles. His path to the major leagues has been sidetracked by injuries and control problems.

Hall was a combined 2-7 with a 4.52 ERA in a total of 20 starts for three teams in the Baltimore farm system this year. He made 18 of those starts at Norfolk and is ranked as the Orioles' fourth-best prospect by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.

"He's a competitor," said Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman, Hall's former minor league teammate. "I don't know how he's going to perform (Saturday), but I know he's going to bring his best. He's a phenomenal, phenomenal pitcher with tremendous stuff, and I have all the confidence in the world that he's going to do great."

When he throws his first pitch, Hall will become the 12th Orioles player to make his major league debut this season and the seventh pitcher.

The much-improved Orioles have won eight of their past 10 games and 24 of their last 33. At 59-53, Baltimore already has passed their win total from each of the last three full seasons when they won 47 games in 2018, 54 in 2019 and 52 in 2021.