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Baltimore Orioles: Keegan Akin set to make MLB debut

By Nick Stevens

SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Keegan Lee Akin #45 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch before the first inning during the spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Keegan Lee Akin #45 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch before the first inning during the spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles have added LHP Keegan Akin to their active roster.

The Baltimore Orioles have finally called up their first prospect of the 2020 season. Per an official team release the Orioles have added LHP Keegan Akin to their active roster, sending outfielder Cedric Mullins to the team’s alternate site in Bowie.

The Orioles are in need of a starter on Sunday to face off against the Washington Nationals and Stephen Strasburg, who will be making his first start of the 2020 season. If Keegan Akin gets the call on Sunday, it will be his major league debut.

As of August 7th, more than 80 rookies have made their MLB debuts this season, however, none of those have been with the Baltimore Orioles. Even with an outfield that has struggled to produce at the plate this year and now sending two outfielders to the team’s alternate site, the Orioles have yet to call up their most MLB ready prospect in Ryan Mountcastle, the 2019 International League MVP.

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Akin, the Orioles 13th-ranked prospect, led the International League in strikeouts in 2019, compiling a 6-7 record, 4.73 ERA, and 131 strikeouts across 112.1 innings. His 10.50 K/9 IP rate was a career-high during his time in the minor leagues.

A second-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2016, Akin was effective at keeping the ball in the yard last season in Triple-A, posting a career-low 0.80 HR/9 IP rate, even while pitching with last year’s juiced baseball in the minor leagues.

In terms of development, Keegan Akin is about as developed as he is going to get at this point for the Orioles. One of the major red flags surrounding Akin has been his consistently high walk rates that date back to his college days in the Mid-American Conference. Over the last three seasons in the minors, Akin has walked 10% or more of hitters he’s faced each season. He walked a career-high 12% in 2019.

Akin has three pitches in his repertoire, including a low-90’s fastball, a slider that produce a good amount of swings and misses, and a workable changeup. If he can limit his walks at the big league level, the Baltimore Orioles could have themselves a back of the rotation piece in Akin.

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With John Means out due to the recent death of his father and the Orioles allowing him as much time as he needs to be with his family, the Orioles need pitching help. Luckily for fans, the organization is finally given them a glimpse into the future and calling up one of their top prospects in Keegan Akin to see what they have.

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