Trowbridge signs with Orioles
Central Michigan University pitcher Matt Trowbridge and the Baltimore Orioles reached an agreement Tuesday night when Trowbridge signed with the club, ending his CMU baseball career early.
Trowbridge – a junior and left-handed closer – became the third Chippewas pitcher to reach an agreement with a Major League Baseball team in the last two weeks.
Senior Pat Kaminska was picked up by the Texas Ranges after going undrafted this year. Junior, starter Jordan Foley, opted to forego his senior year to sign with the New York Yankees last week.
The Orioles took Trowbridge in the 13th round with the 391st pick.
"It is just such a relief," Trowbridge said. "At the same time, I wanted to make sure I got everything (from Baltimore) that I wanted. But in the meantime, I was trying to realize how special this feeling I have is."
The 5-foot-9 pitcher was confident about his draft value following the 2014 campaign.
"I had a feeling I would get taken," he said. "I would not be where I am today if it was not for CMU. I could not have asked for a better experience."
After being thrust into the starting rotation his freshman year, coach Steve Jaksa eventually helped Trowbridge grow into a lights-out closer.
Trowbridge appeared in 16 games in the 2014 season, posting a 2.59 earned run average. In 31 and 1/3 innings, Trowbridge struck out 43 batters and allowed 17 hits.
"Matt was everything you wanted a student athlete to be," Jaksa said. "Would we have liked him to stay another year? Sure. He would have been great for us. But he had to make the decision that was best for him and his career."
At one point, Trowbridge roomed with Foley; his soon-to-be American League East rival.
"Me, Jordan and PK have always been tight," Trowbridge said. "The three of us all had a lot of fun together because we were successful. Our staff (in 2014) was pretty amazing."
Recruiter and pitching coach Jeff Opalewski remembers the day Trowbridge showed up in Mount Pleasant.
"He was so shy as a freshman," Opalewski said. "To be able to watch him grow as a human being has been really rewarding. He has gained so much confidence in his abilities. He really wants to be successful in every way he can be. It's good that a major league club recognized that and cashed in on it."
The Illinois-native is ready to face MLB hitters right away, according to Opalewski.
"I'm excited for the future, but I wouldn't trade my time at CMU for anything," Trowbridge said. "You've got to take the good with the bad. And right now, this feels pretty good."
