Even before he went down with a herniated disc in his lower back in late April, Orioles pitching prospect Dillon Tate had begun pitching out of the bullpen for Double-A Bowie.
And since returning from the injured list in early June, the right-hander, who was part of the return from the New York Yankees for reliever Zack Britton last July, has shown promise as a relief pitcher after spending all of last season as a starter with Double-A Trenton and the Baysox. In 10 relief appearances since June 3, Tate has posted a 2.60 ERA in 17.1 innings while striking out 20 and walking just one.
"I really do believe that I am a bullpen guy, but what doesn't sit well with me is when somebody else tries to label what I am," Tate said on Glenn Clark Radio July 3. "... I feel like if somebody tries to put that label on me, I might try to prove somebody wrong and just go out there and start. I don't think now is the right time but you might see me start in the future, who knows?"
