Orion Kerkering

Orion Kerkering is a right-handed relief pitcher whose pro journey began after being selected in the 5th round of the 2022 MLB Draft (pick 16) out of South Florida. Born April 4, 2001, in Huntington Beach, California, he attended Venice High School in Florida before moving to the college level. Kerkering made his MLB debut on September 24, 2023, and quickly logged meaningful late-inning work. In 2024, he threw 63.0 innings across 64 appearances (including two starts), posting a 2.286 ERA with a 1.079 WHIP and 74 strikeouts. His 10.575 K/9 and 4.35 K/BB highlighted a swing-and-miss profile with strong command for a bullpen arm. In 2025, he appeared in 69 games and worked 60.0 innings with a 3.30 ERA, 1.367 WHIP, 65 strikeouts, and 19 holds, adding 4 saves in 11 save opportunities. A defining part of his pitch mix is a high-velocity fastball: in 2026 regular-season tracking, his four-seam fastball averaged 97.4 mph and reached 99.7 mph, complemented by a sweeper averaging 87.2 mph with high spin (2,920 rpm). This Orion Kerkering MLB Profile reflects a reliever used across leverage spots, with Orion Kerkering stats driven by strikeouts, ground-ball contact, and power stuff.