D-Train Stops in Baltimore
With increasing uncertainty surrounding the Orioles pitching staff due to injuries, the team inked former starter Dontrelle “D-Train” Willis to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Willis was recently released by the Philadelphia Phillies after making a few appearances in the spring. Dontrelle has already passed his physical and will report to the team immediately. At this point in his pitching career, Willis is trying to make a comeback as a relief pitcher.
It’s been a whirlwind of a career in MLB for Dontrelle. He debuted with a goofy delivery and was a force atop the Florida Marlins rotation for some years, with a Rookie of the Year and a 20-win season to his credit. Here is a look at the rest of this stats. He was then traded with Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers where he spent 2007-2010. After both injury plagued and ineffective years recently, he sought opportunity with the Orioles.
The Orioles do have injury concerns coming into the season. Pitcher, Tommy Hunter, who has not pitched this yet this spring, will debut today, according to Buck Showalter. It has been reported by Brittany Ghiroli that Zach Britton will be visiting Dr. James Andrews to get a second opinion for his left shoulder inflammation. Britton will most likely miss the start of his sophomore season due to this injury.
While Willis’ days of starting or being staff ace are clearly behind him, Orioles and Orioles fans alike are hopeful he can resurrect his career in the orange and black. If he sticks, he will provide depth and could perform as a shutdown lefty specialist out of the bullpen for Buck and the gang. Only time will tell the results of this signing, but I think the Orioles are a good fit for the now enigmatic left-hander.
