Catching Up With Kevin Gausman

Kevin Gausman is the epitome of what every IronBirds player strives to be. He was drafted by the Orioles in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft, started in Aberdeen, and then worked his way through the Orioles minor league affiliates before finally making it to the mound at Camden Yards. But now he's back and he's relished the opportunity to get back to his roots.

"I definitely never thought I'd be back here to be honest," Gausman said. "I hoped that I'd never be back here - not in a bad way at all. I think this facility is one of the best in the minors. It's a beautiful stadium and the clubhouse is nice, so I was looking forward to that."

Two years can seem like a long time, especially when you're fresh out of college and learning how to be a professional as well, and Ripken Stadium and Aberdeen helped Gausman make that adjustment.

"The last time I was here I just got drafted, so I had a lot of different things being thrown at me at once," he said. "Living with a host family for the first time, this was really like my first time being out on my own completely. I had a little bit of money in my pocket, being able to really do whatever I wanted to do. I felt like it's been forever [since I've been here], but really it's only been two years ago, which is kind of crazy."

Since appearing in Aberdeen to begin his career, Gausman has become a steady presence in the Orioles' bullpen. In 2013, Gausman went 3-5, appearing in 20 games, including five starts. He pitched 47.2 innings, gave up 51 hits, 30 runs - all earned - while striking out 49, good for a 3.75 ERA. In 2014, however, Gausman has improved quite a bit. Before returning to Aberdeen, Gausman started five games for the Orioles, allowing 27 hits, 12 runs and ringing up 17 strikeouts to earn a 3-2 record and 3.86 ERA - the second best of the Orioles' starters.

"I threw a lot of innings out of the bullpen last year and that's honestly where I feel like I learned how to pitch at the major league level," Gausman said. "Really it's experience more than anything [that helps you improve]. When I first got called up I was playing against guys I grew up watching, and every stadium I went to I was just kind of in awe, but now it just feels like it's baseball. As a young guy you can definitely get caught up in who you're pitching against, you tend to stay away from guys than attack guys."

Yes, Gausman is "living the dream," but it wasn't all fun and games. Working your way through the minor league system of any team isn't exactly easy or quick. After starting his career in Aberdeen in 2012, Gausman moved up to Frederick where he started three games. Then in 2013 he began the year in Bowie, where he started eight games, before moving up to Norfolk where he started seven games. It was then he got the call up to Baltimore.

"I struggled a little bit at Frederick," he said. "I just kind of got lucky. I moved up and pitched well in Bowie and the next season I made sure I came into spring training ready and in shape and I just wanted to make sure that I was in midseason form ... I went on a pretty good tear in Bowie and then I got called up."

Despite moving through the ranks relatively quickly, Gausman agrees that the process is necessary.

"It definitely helps you," he said. "I felt like it was a pretty big jump when I went from Double-A to the big leagues. I kind of felt like I wasn't necessarily ready. I realized there's definitely things I needed to work on. It just happened I got called up because Chen needed knee surgery and I was just kind of the next guy in line. I struggled, and you can tell that there's a jump in talent in each level."

But Gausman had the rare opportunity to return to where it all started - to share a clubhouse with players who were just like him, who want to get to where he is now.

"A lot of them have been asking me questions, just kind of picking my brain, which is good," Gausman said. "That's what I did when I came up. Jason Hammel pitched a rehab start in Frederick when I was there, and just talking to him about pitching and what to expect - and not just the baseball thing but the personal aspect of it too. It's pretty tough as a young kid, you don't realize that you're not going to see you're family very much, but Hammel was a guy that really helped me with that last year."

Although he may not see Ripken Stadium again after his ten day stay in Aberdeen, Kevin Gausman will never forget the place that started him on his pro baseball journey - a place where players' dreams begin.