Shorebird of the Week - June 2, 2011

Unlike a lot of previous campaigns, this year the Shorebirds' strength is on the offensive end rather than on the mound.

But one of the more effective starters has amassed 5 quality starts, including shutting out the opposition for seven and eight innings at a time. It's no wonder Jacob Pettit sports a 5-0 record, with the Shorebirds holding an 8-2 record in his 10 starts thus far. (In the two losses the bullpen lost one-run leads in the ninth inning; otherwise we could be a perfect 10-0 in games Pettit started.)

His success may be a little startling when you notice he wasn't drafted until the 42nd round by the Orioles last year. But with the rookie team in Bluefield, Jacob anchored their starting rotation with a 2.68 ERA that belied his 3-5 won-lost record. More amazingly, Jacob walked but four batters in 57 innings pitched. Add one base on balls in a late-season five-inning Aberdeen appearance and that's still walking less than one batter per nine innings and a dominating 1.03 WHIP.

Pettit has come down to earth a little bit as he faces more discerning hitters at a higher level; still, he's only allowed 21 walks in 59 2/3 innings and that's about a respectable three per nine inning clip. (Five of those free passes were in his last start, where he gutted out a seven-inning stint, giving up two runs on three hits.)

Obviously the 24 year old Washington native who played at Division II Western Oregon State didn't attract a lot of notice from the scouts, and was probably seen by the Orioles as an organization player. But Jacob is taking advantage of the opportunity presented to him as a member of the Shorebirds' starting rotation and has done his part to keep the team successful.