The people who liked Bergeson should be going wild for this guy. Very similiar numbers except he struck out almost twice as many. I see him at AAA and with a better chance to make the major leagues than Bergeson.

It's nice to see that McPhail has introduced the idea of the control pitcher back into the organization. After leading the league in walks the past two seasons, it will be nice to see guys like Uehara throw the ball over the plate consistently. Berken is in that mold, and while no one will confuse our staff with the Minnesota Twins, the change in philosophy will benefit Berken more than any other prospect. I agree that he starts in Norfolk and has a chance to be a mid-year callup when the inevitable injury happens to open up the rotation spot. I see Berken as a Scott Baker/Carlos Silva type, potentially a #3 but more likely a solid #4 or #5 for many years.

Walks have really killed the pitchers in this org.for along time.Why should it take 80 pitches to get through 4 innings? If Berken can maintain his control he should be a decent back end of the rotation starter.All things being equal,the pitchers that throw strikes should get the first chances on the ml roster.

I am really glad to see this guy get some coverage. Given his numbers, he certainly looks like a keeper to me. I wonder if the O's powers-that-be are reluctant to sign FA pitchers because they have that much confidence in the guys coming along.

May not be starts for Berken at Norfolk until middle of the season. Hard to predict when Berken gets chance in Baltimore - there are so many starters rated ahead of him. Expect Berken to get his chance no later than mid season 2011. Sooner if others blow-up or break-down.

Berken gets lost in the shuffle, but has some very good numbers. If he does well at AAA, he deserves a September call-up and the kid probably gets a spring training invitation for 2010.
With his control, he has a leg up on the minor league pitching prospects. Berken might actually get his opportunity to pitch for the O's this year if an injury occurs, due to lack of depth / talent at the major and minor league levels.
Ideally, let the kid continue to develop in AAA, and give him a September call-up.

I have always liked Hayden Penn. I have kept waiting for him to finally put everything together. It is just my opinion but I think Camden Yards does to pitchers who must pitch in it regularly, what The Green Monster in Fenway does to hitters. When the humidity is up it is a launching pad.
Pitchers start nibbling around the low outside edge, then you start walking hitters and kaboom. This is what has happened all to frequently with Oriole pitchers.

A couple of years ago Baseball America listed him as their "sleeper" pick in the Orioles system - a guy who could move quickly through the organization. His K/BB and HR numbers are very good - he could be a nice back-of-the-rotation guy.

hahaha who the hell is he??
let me get this straight..
he is a 25 year old "prospect" who cant command the strike zone and hada an era around 5 in single A?? does that sound about right? he has no future with the ballclub not with the prospects we have, hernandez,bergerson,tillman,arrieta,matuz lol this shouldnt even be asked hell prolly be traded as the player to be named later

He gets a shot at some point this year. Good control, decent stuff and a pitcher from a winning college program. Seems undervalued much like John Maine was in the organization, sounds like the same kind of pitcher too. Not a front end starter but good serviceable innings guy and 2007 should be ignored coming off major surgery. He'll have a good year and at 25 is probably more mature to deal with the coming promotion.

Interesting that people are giving AM credit for this one. He and the other three core starters were the past management. So please give credit where credit is due. The one thing I truly believe is that he will come up in late 2009 and serve out of the bullpen. He is 25 now and has the college and at that point will have three years minor league experience behind him. With Tillman, Bergessen, Hernandez and Berken there is a lot of talent there, but they will not all be starters at the MLB level and I predict that he will be a reliever.

I like Berken, but I do question what his ultimate role will be in the majors. Like Bergesen, he has good stuff, but not great. They both have put together nice minor league careers so far, and look like good bets to make the majors at some point in the next year or two. However, I'm not so quick to put them in the back of a rotation. I imagine that one of them could end up there, but I think that both of them could be better suited in the bullpen.

The scouting report on both of them shows a lack of stamina, as they tire and their stuff flattens out around the 4th or 5th inning. Sometimes they can last a little longer when they are extra efficient with their pitch counts, and sometimes they start to get a second wind when they smell a win (esp. Bergesen), but that still raises my eyebrows. Bergesen has also had a tough time with lefties in his career.

hey John,obviously your dyslexia is in full bloom again,he commands the strike zone very very well,and many a major league pitcher has struggled his first year in the minors.Just so you know he had 249 strikeouts and 87 walks in 298 and 2/3 innings the last 2 years.Seems too me that is pretty good control of the strike zone.With about a 3.9 combined era over the last 2 years and a 21-13 record.Sounds like a keeper to me.

A guy who gives up few walks and rarely a home run. I like that combination with the O's new focus on team speed and defense. He gets a shot if he earns a shot ... bottom line. My feeling is that he will earn a shot soon and wish him luck ultimately helping the big club.

Berken has no shot at rebounding this season-nor the next. He won't have a spot in the order after this hideous year, and Rich Hill will take his place.