Hess Receives Promotion to Double-A Bowie
FREDERICK, Md. - The Frederick Keys are excited to announce that David Hess has been promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He becomes the 15th Keys player to receive a promotion this year, while it marks the first time the Tennessee native has been called up to the Eastern League.
Over 26 games (25 starts) with the Keys, Hess, 22, went 9-4 with a 3.58 ERA. Logging 133.1 innings, the right-hander allowed 53 runs on 112 hits to go with 53 walks and 110 strikeouts. Opponents were batting .224 against him. At the time of his promotion, Hess was second in the league in batting average against and games started, fourth in strikeouts, fifth in innings pitched and ninth in ERA.
Named the Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July, Hess performed even better in August. In five starts, he went 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA (27.1 IP/3R) and held opponents to a .186 average. Only Lynchburg's Michael Peoples (0.87) posted a lower ERA among Carolina League starters in August.
Closing out his Advanced-A tenure in style, Hess fired off a seven-inning, one-hit shutout at Potomac last Tuesday in the front-end of a doubleheader. It was the first complete game and first shutout of Hess' career. For his efforts, the righty was named the Carolina League "Pitcher of the Week" for the second time this season.
Since the all-star break, Hess has posted the lowest ERA of any Carolina League starting pitcher. Tallying a 1.34 ERA over 12 second-half starts, he went 7-0 and surrendered just 10 runs and 43 hits in 67 innings. A winner in four of his last five outings, the Keys were victorious in 10 of Hess' 12 outings after the break.
Entering the season ranked as the No. 20 prospect in the Orioles system according to Baseball America, Hess was selected by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of Tennessee Tech. There, he became the highest-drafted Golden Eagles player since 1969 when he was taken with the 151st overall selection.
The Keys begin their final homestand of the season on Tuesday night when the Carolina Mudcats come to town. Left-hander John Means (0-1, 7.45) starts for the Keys against Mudcats southpaw Blair Walters (5-8, 2.93). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source and frederickkeys.com. For tickets, fans can call the box office at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.