Key Highlights
- Baumann’s ERA was 4.20 at the NPB level, and he also threw another 11 innings in the minors, where he had a 4.09 ERA. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat’s a clear indicator that this is a minor league deal, but Baumann has displayed occasional strikeout ability.
- His strikeout rate in Japan was 25.3 percent to go with and 20.9 percent in the minors, although his walk rate of 16 percent in Japan is a concern. So what’s intriguing about Baumann?
- His pitch arsenal, mostly, according to McDonald.
- He throws a four-seam fastball and a sinker that both get into the upper 90s, along with a slider that plays in the low 90s to go with a knuckle curve and a changeup. Harnessing that arsenal is another matter entirely.
- After his initial stint with the Orioles, Baumann began bouncing around, and he probably has a lot of jerseys hanging around in his closet, including ones from the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Miami Marlins. Baumann did stints with all of those teams from 2021-2024, and he threw 167-1/3 innings during that time with a 4.95 ERA, a 20 percent strikeout rate, a 10.3 percent walk rate and a 42.7 ground-ball rate, according to McDonald. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGiven all this, it would be surprising to see Baumann make the major league roster, but he could provide bullpen depth at Triple A Syracuse.