Frequent flyer Vespi back after 16th(!) callup

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

HOUSTON -- Every Minor League baseball player anxiously awaits it. They’ve all dreamed of it.

They want to be called into their manager’s office -- or receive a phone call from a member of their club’s front office -- to be informed they’re heading to the big leagues.

It’s happened a few times for Nick Vespi.

Make that 16 times over the past three seasons, to be exact, as the Orioles have continually flipped the 28-year-old left-hander between the Majors and Minors, depending on their bullpen needs at the time.

“One way I look at it is guys play their whole career trying to get called up one time,” Vespi said. “Thankfully, I’ve gotten called up more than once. Every time’s exciting.”

When Vespi was first called up to The Show on May 17, 2022, he left Triple-A Norfolk for Baltimore. He couldn’t have imagined the travel the future would bring.

The route from Norfolk, Va., to Baltimore should get named the Nick Vespi Expressway someday. He’s made that trip seven of the times he’s been called up, including for his most recent promotion on June 15.

Vespi’s journey is sometimes more complicated, and he credits both Orioles team travel manager Charles Escalante and his fiancée, Danielle Bieberle, for setting him up for success.

“Charles does an extremely good job at getting me right with the travel, and my fiancée does a really good job at packing my bags for me and keeping me sharp on that side of the game,” Vespi said. “I’ve definitely got a lot of people in my corner that are helping me out, and extremely thankful for all of them.”

In 2022, Vespi was promoted six times. His callups featured routes from Durham, N.C., to Baltimore (July 25) and from Norfolk to Arlington, Texas (Aug. 2).

This year, Vespi has been called up five times. On May 22, he traveled from Worcester, Mass., to St. Louis to serve as the 27th man for a quasi-doubleheader featuring the resumption of a suspended game. He traveled with the team to Chicago that night before heading back for Worcester -- only to find out the O’s would be calling him up as an injury replacement on May 24. So he landed at the Boston airport, then hopped on a flight back to Chicago.

The toughest travel day, though, may have been when Vespi flew from Jacksonville, Fla., to Seattle on Aug. 11, 2023 -- one of his five callups last year -- when he needed to get to T-Mobile Park for a 7:10 p.m. PT game. Not only did Vespi make it, but he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

“I got two hours of sleep, maybe,” Vespi said. “But I try and look past all that stuff. Doesn’t matter how you get to the ballpark. When I put that jersey on, it’s go time.”

This can be the life of a player with Minor League options remaining. It often happens to fringe relievers, such as Vespi, although MLB has instituted a rule in which players can only be optioned five times a year before having to be exposed to waivers to get sent down.

Vespi’s role is challenging, and his team realizes that. Bryan Baker may not be as well traveled -- the 29-year-old righty has been called up to the big leagues four times -- but he has an appreciation for Vespi’s efforts, as does manager Brandon Hyde.

“That guy can roll out of bed and get you anywhere from three to nine outs at any ballpark against anybody,” Baker said. “Coming off of no sleep, coming off of travel, coming off of having one pair of shoes and a couple shirts with you in your suitcase, just not knowing what’s next -- it’s a perfect example, guys like that are unsung heroes.”

Added Hyde: “Total pro, in every single way. Class act. It’s not easy to do what he’s doing. ... He’s always prepared, and he’ll stay out there for me. He’s ready to pitch. I like having Nick around.”

Vespi is hopeful he’ll eventually stick in the Majors. Perhaps it could even be this stint.

After recording a 4.17 ERA in 34 games over the previous two seasons, Vespi has worked seven scoreless innings in six MLB outings this year. He could help the O’s weather the loss of fellow southpaw Danny Coulombe (bone chip removal surgery), who is likely out until September.

But if Vespi ends up in Triple-A again, he’ll stay ready for his next opportunity.

“It’s definitely challenging at times,” said Vespi, who has a 2.64 ERA in 92 career Triple-A games. “Taking care of the baseball side of the game keeps me in the right direction. Just go down there and focus on doing what you can to get [hitters] out, and it’ll translate up here. Pitching in Triple-A, having success, I feel like you’ll have success up here as well.”