The Delmarva Shorebirds (Low-A East) are off to a 19-8 start in 2021 and a quintet of pitchers account for 11 of those wins. Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias’ promise to build an elite talent pipeline looks to be flowing.
One of those five hurlers to keep an eye on is 23 year old RHP Noah Denoyer. He is probably a relative unknown to most Orioles fans, his performance for the Shorebirds, should it continue, will put him on the radar.
A native of Tracy, California, he pitched at San Joaquin Delta College and made 16 appearances during the 2018-2019 school year, finishing with a 4-1 record with 3 saves over four starts and 43.1 innings pitched. His ERA was 4.15 as well.
Denoyer was signed in August of 2019 as a Minor League free agent and was assigned to the Gulf Coast Orioles. Three and a half years removed from Tommy John surgery, he was pitching in the Collegiate Summer Northwoods League for the Eau Claire Express when he was signed by the Orioles.
He appeared in nine games for the Express in 2019 and made one start, pitching to a 2-0 record over 21.0 innings. Denoyer faced 88 batters that season, striking out 24 and walking 7 (3.43 K/BB ratio), and finished with a 3.00 ERA and 1.286 WHIP. I am certain that the strikeout numbers are what made him a good fit for the Orioles.
His appearance in the Gulf Coast League was a brief one, just 4.0 innings over 3 games.
Denoyer participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League following the Covid-19 related cancellation of the Minor League season and was assigned to the Shorebirds after Spring Training 2021.
So far in 2021, Denoyer has made five appearances (2 starts) for the Shorebirds and is currently 2-0, tied for second best on the team. He has a 2.60 ERA over 17.1 innings of work with a 1.327 WHIP.
Currently fourth best on the team in strikeouts with 23, Denover is fitting in well with the organization’s emphasis on strike outs. One thing that does need to be improved on is his walk rate of 17.6% (13 walks/ 74 batters faced) and his K/BB ratio of 1.77.
He is holding batters to a .200 batting average and is stranding 89.6% of batters who do reach base off of him. His ground out to fly out ratio is 1.45.
Maybe not one of the bigger names on the Delmarva roster, Denoyer’s star is on the rise and fans could very well see him pitch in Aberdeen later in the season. He is worth a look if you find your way to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium while spending time at the beach this summer or if you are interested in a trip to Salisbury for some good MiLB baseball.