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Next stop, Baltimore South Medford alumnus Steve Bechler is a step away from realizing his major-league dreams By TIM PYLE This time through town, Steve Bechler feels much more at home. The 1998 graduate of South Medford High is within spitting distance of his major-league aspirations as he pitches for the Triple A Rochester (N.Y.) Redwings of the Independent League. After hurling one inning for the Baltimore Orioles during spring training and starting four games for the Double A Bowie (Md.) Baysox, the right-handed Bechler was promoted to the Redwings on April 27. Last year, Bechler pitched twice for Rochester but spent most of the year in Class A Frederick (Md.) and then in Bowie. His 2001 stint with the Redwings was not only unexpected - he was suddenly called away from the Carolina League all-star game to head to New York - but also ineffective - he gave up 13 earned runs in 7� innings. Four starts into his second, more-comfortable Rochester tour, Bechler feels good about his progress. "I feel strong," says the 6-foot-2, 207-pound 22-year-old. "I feel stronger than I ever have; I feel more confident than I ever have." Added to the Orioles' 40-man roster last winter, Bechler harbored hopes of making the organization's big-league roster in spring training. He even heeded the advice of club brass and headed to Baltimore a month before spring training to begin working out. But once the Orioles began spring training at their Fort Lauderdale, Fla., facilities, Bechler got just one chance to pitch in a game. That one shot, however, was a memorable one. STEVE BECHLER WHO: The 1998 graduate of South Medford High is a right-handed starting pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system. WHAT: After a brief spring-training stint with the Orioles and four starts with the Double-A Bowie (Md.) Baysox, Bechler is pitching for the Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.) Redwings. QUOTE: "It's weird. This guy brought up a book with my cards in it. ... It gave me a little, giddy kid feeling." "I threw one inning against my childhood idols, the Dodgers," says Bechler, who has family in Southern California. "I struck out (catcher) Chad Kreuter, that was the highlight. ... I had to call my dad (Ernie) right afterward." The other notable major-leaguer Bechler faced in the appearance was outfielder Marquis Grissom. When they optioned him to Bowie, Baltimore management stressed patience, Bechler says. "They just said I'm still young, and they don't really want to rush me," says the third-round pick in the 1998 draft. "They told me my time will come." In four starts with the Baysox, Bechler went 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA in 23� innings to quickly earn a promotion to Rochester. With the Redwings, Bechler pitched exceptionally in his first two starts before struggling somewhat in the last two. Overall, his record is 0-2 and his ERA stands at 4.56 after allowing four earned runs in six innings against the Durham Bulls in Rochester's come-from-behind home victory on Thursday. "I pitched real well in my first two starts, and I should have won," says Bechler, who gave up just one earned run in seven innings in the first on April 29. "Even my manager told me I should have been 2-0. "My confidence and my mound presence is what's making me succeed right now. ... Last year, I was a little timid, a little scared because I was pitching in Triple A for the first time. I'm more confident now." In addition to concentrating on his pitching, Bechler is taking every opportunity to soak up wisdom from the handful of Redwings who have significant major-league experience. Those include pitchers Yorkis Perez and Josh Towers, utility man Alex Arias and Bechler's roommates, outfielder Larry Bigbie and second baseman Brian Roberts. "They kinda give me a hard time about being 'the baby,' because I'm the youngest on the team," Bechler says. "But a lot of the guys here have been in the majors quite a bit and talk about it all the time. It's a real education." In at least one department, Bechler is already a big-league veteran. Much to his delight, Bechler is featured on two major-league baseball cards released this year. "It's weird," Bechler says. "This guy brought up a book with my cards in it. ... It gave me a little, giddy kid feeling." By pitching well for Rochester, Bechler aims to earn a call-up to the Orioles this season and find that tingling feeling again, this time on a major-league mound. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.