Former N.C. State standout Chad Orvella, who is making a comeback from shoulder surgery last May that sidelined him for the entire 2008 season, is off to a good start with the Durham Bulls.
As far as earned run average goes, his 2009 season couldn't be going any better.
Orvella has made four appearances for the 8-2 Bulls this year -- giving up six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He has walked just one and struck out nine while not allowing a run.
Orvella, 28, was a 13th-round draft pick out of N.C. State by Tampa Bay in 2003. A shortstop at State, he made 10 relief appearances in his senior season and showed enough to be drafted as a pitcher.
Working his way up the minor-league ladder, Orvella put up outstanding numbers. In 2005 with Double-A Montgomery, he has a 0.36 ERA in 16 appearances with nine saves. Tampa Bay called him up on May 30, 2005, and he made 37 apperances in the big leagues that season with a 3-3 record, one save and a 3.60 ERA.
Over the next two seasons, he was shuttled between the minors and the majors before last May's surgery. In 2007, he had 20 saves with the Bulls. His major league career numbers are 4-10 with a 5.79 ERA and one save.
If he keeps putting up the kind of numbers with the Bulls that he has in the first two weeks of the season, he could be headed back to the Rays. And, maybe this time, to stay.
