1. Overview
Richard Orion Kerkering (born April 4, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hailing from Huntington Beach, California, Kerkering was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2023. Known for his distinctive pitching style, which predominantly features a sweeper and four-seam fastball, he rapidly ascended through the Phillies' minor league system before contributing to their major league team and postseason efforts.
2. Early life and amateur career
Richard Orion Kerkering's early life laid the foundation for his professional baseball journey, beginning with his formal education and culminating in a notable college baseball career.
2.1. Childhood and education
Richard Orion Kerkering was born on April 4, 2001, in Huntington Beach, California, located within Orange County, California. He attended Venice High School.
2.2. College career
Kerkering played college baseball for the South Florida Bulls at the University of South Florida for three seasons. He began his junior season as a starting pitcher before transitioning into the role of the Bulls' closer. During his college career, Kerkering made 19 appearances, including 10 starts. He recorded a 5-7 win-loss record with three saves and a 5.72 ERA, while striking out 91 batters over 67 and two-thirds innings pitched. In 2021, he also played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
3. Professional career
Kerkering's professional baseball career saw a rapid progression through the minor leagues, culminating in his Major League Baseball debut and postseason appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies.
3.1. Draft and minor leagues
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Kerkering in the fifth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, as the 152nd overall pick. After signing his professional contract, he was initially assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies for his professional debut. He later received a promotion to the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. Across these two teams in 2022, he appeared in six games, recording a 1-0 win-loss record, a 3.86 ERA, and seven strikeouts.
At the beginning of the 2023 season, Kerkering returned to Clearwater. After pitching 10 and one-third scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts over nine relief appearances, he was promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Subsequently, Kerkering was further promoted to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils and then to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 49 combined appearances across Clearwater, Jersey Shore, Reading, and Lehigh Valley during the 2023 season, Kerkering achieved a 4-1 win-loss record and a 1.51 ERA, along with 79 strikeouts and 14 saves over 53 and two-thirds innings pitched. His exceptional performance earned him the organization's Paul Owens Award for pitcher for the 2023 season.
3.2. Major League Baseball debut and initial seasons
On September 22, 2023, Kerkering was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut two days later, on September 24, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth inning that included two strikeouts, against the New York Mets. On September 27, he earned his first Major League win after pitching a scoreless inning in a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2023, he made three major league appearances, recording a 1-0 win-loss record, a 3.00 ERA, and six strikeouts.
Kerkering was named to the Phillies' Wild Card Series roster. In Game 2 of the series against the Miami Marlins, he again pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. He appeared in seven postseason games in total during the 2023 season.
4. Playing style
As of 2024, Orion Kerkering's pitching repertoire primarily features a sweeper, which he throws 60.4% of the time, followed by a four-seam fastball at 34.9%, and a sinker at 4.7%. Notably, in 2023, approximately 85% of his pitches were sweepers, highlighting his reliance on this particular breaking ball.
5. Career statistics
The following table summarizes Richard Orion Kerkering's Major League Baseball pitching statistics as of the end of the 2023 season.
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | W | L | HLD | WPCT | BF | IP | H | R | ER | HR | HB | SO | BB | IBB | WHIP | H/9 | R/9 | ER/9 | SO/9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PHI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 14 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.67 | 0 | 3.00 | 1.67 | 18.00 |
| MLB: 1 year | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 14 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.67 | 0 | 3.00 | 1.67 | 18.00 | |
Kerkering wears jersey number 50 for the Philadelphia Phillies, a number he has used since 2023.
6. Personal life
Richard Orion Kerkering shares his given first name, Richard, with both his father and paternal grandfather. However, all three men are known by their respective middle names, each of which is distinct.