O's select contract of Hart from Double-A
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Orioles added another fresh arm prior to Friday's second-half opener against the Rays, selecting the contract of left-hander Donnie Hart from Double-A Bowie.
The 25-year-old Hart, who was named a 2016 Eastern League All-Star, takes the roster spot of Jason García and is the O's fourth player promoted from Double-A this season.
"You think about it more," Hart said of watching his teammates get the call. "You think about what those guys did down there, and then you kind of look at what you're doing and say, 'If I can give myself a chance to do what they were doing,' you think your chances are good. It's nice. It's nice to know that they have trust in us to do that kind of stuff and call us up from Bowie."
Hart went 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA -- allowing 10 earned runs over 39 innings -- with two saves and 43 strikeouts over 33 games. He registered at least one strikeout in 27 of his 33 games and held left-handed hitters to a .158/.200/.211 slash line.
"It was exciting," Hart said of getting the news on Thursday. "I had to sit there for a second and think about it. It's every kid's dream, so it was pretty cool."
In 125 career Minor League games, Hart is 12-6 with a 2.27 ERA (37 earned runs over 146 2/3 innings), 24 saves and 146 strikeouts. His first appearance with the Orioles will be his Major League debut.