With an abundance of pitching prospects scattered throughout the Orioles’ minor league system, it would be easy to overlook Delmarva Shorebirds starting pitcher Nathan Nery.

The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher was 7-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 15 starts for Delmarva this season. Nery didn’t suffer a loss after July 26. In his final seven starts, the Orioles’ 18th-round pick in the 2006 draft only gave up five earned runs in 43 innings. He didn’t allow an earned run in his final three starts, spanning 21 2/3 innings.

Nery was also selected by the Orioles in the eighth round of the 2003 draft out of high school, but he opted to attend Stetson University instead of signing with the team. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound pitcher was 7-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 games (12 starts) during his junior year at Stetson in 2006. He had 76 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings.

Prior to joining the Shorebirds in 2008, Nery was 8-8 with a 4.54 ERA in two seasons with the Aberdeen IronBirds. He appeared in 36 games for Aberdeen in 2006 and 2007, including 17 starts.

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General information

Name: Nathan Nery
Age: 23
Height: 6-5
Weight: 215 lbs.
Hometown: Moon Township, Pa.
Nicknames: Nate
Position: Left-handed pitcher
High school/college: Moon Area (Pa.) High School / Stetson University
Time in professional baseball: Three years

Favorites

Current MLB player: Chipper Jones
All-time MLB player: Nolan Ryan
MLB team: Atlanta Braves
Sport (other than baseball): Hockey
Food: Filet mignon
Music: Rock
TV show: SportsCenter
Movie: Super Troopers
Hobbies: Golf / fishing

Other questions

1. What is one thing that you’d like the fans to know about you?

I was born in Atlanta, Ga.

2. At this point in your career, what has been your favorite moment?

Walking onto the field during my first day of professional baseball.

3. Who is your role model?

My parents.

4. In the minor leagues, what do you do for fun on a road trip?

Sleep, eat and watch television.

5. If you could play any other position, what would it be and why?

First base. I like the position and used to play there. Being left-handed, it’s the only infield position that I can play.

The survey was distributed and returned by Delmarva’s media relations department. Check out other ‘Surveying the minors’ features about the O’s minor leaguers here.