By Kurt Miller
Establishing yourself as the go-to pitcher as a freshman on a collegiate baseball team is rare. But Ryan Orr of the Kalamazoo College baseball team did just that in the spring of 2015. What's more uncommon, though, is having the desire to get even better by putting yourself in unfamiliar territory against stiff competition.
Yet to put on a Kalamazoo College baseball uniform, Orr found out he had an opportunity that is scarce for many Division III players. K head baseball coach Mike Ott began searching for summer league opportunities right around the time Orr was preparing for his first few weeks as a college student in the late summer of 2014.
"It was looking like I would go down to play in the Texas Collegiate League," Orr said. "I was pretty nervous just thinking about being gone for an entire summer, especially after just leaving for college."
Things changed quickly, though. In a matter of a week or two into his first semester of college, the Kenosha Kingfish of the Northwoods League offered Orr a temporary contract—a contract that guaranteed him just 10 games with a chance to be extended based on performance.
Despite being a riskier move than heading down to the Texas Collegiate League and having a guaranteed contract for the summer, Orr took a chance. He wanted to play in one of the best collegiate summer leagues in the country—a league that provided valuable experience to the likes of Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Jordan Zimmerman and Curtis Granderson when they were in college and on their way to the Major Leagues.
The day of his first game came, and with no guarantee going forward, the nerves began to build.
"I was a reliever for the first time in my career and I had no idea when I was going to pitch or if I would even pitch at all," he said. "It was nerve-racking all game until I finally got the call to start warming up and then go into the game. Once I started throwing, I was able to settle in and get a little more comfortable, but I still felt a lot of pressure."
Orr overcame the pressure, though, and settle in he did.
The transition to the bullpen was as smooth as it gets. Orr established himself as one of the most dominant relievers in the league and earned himself a spot on the South Division's All-Star team, a feat just two Division III players managed to achieve, and he became the first player to ever land on the team from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
"It was a huge honor for me to make it to the All-Star game. I was able to be a part of team filled with great athletes, mainly from Division I schools, and I was pumped to be put into the same category as them," he said. "At the time I wasn't thinking about the fact I was coming from a Division III school, I was more focused on enjoying myself and making sure I show the professional scouts what I can do."
By the end of the regular season, his numbers stood out in the NWL. He went a perfect 3-0 in 45.1 relief innings pitched while recording a 1.39 ERA. His ratio of 42 strikeouts while walking just nine was one of the best in the league and he also recorded three saves.
His numbers in the postseason were even more impressive, though. Orr threw 4.1 innings of work, surrendered no earned runs and recorded the final three outs as the Kingfish captured the 2015 NWL Championship, 8-1, over the St. Cloud Rox.
"In Kenosha, every single game we thought we were going to win," Orr said. "We could be down five runs in the first inning and we would still be confident in ourselves and know that we were going to battle back and find a way to win the game."
That mentality is an area he hopes he can bring back to K and instill in his Hornet teammates.
"Our Kingfish team struggled at times, just like any team will do, but it seemed like someone was always able to turn things around or step up in a big situation and come through.
"At Kalamazoo we also have some great athletes who compete and understand we're building a winning culture. We will need to continue to have the right mentality and believe that we have the capability to win a championship as well."
Ott could not be prouder of the accomplishments his young pitcher was able to walk away with this summer, and he is excited to have him back on campus wearing the Hornets' black and orange.
"His performance this summer was absolutely brilliant," Ott said. "There is nothing else to say as the numbers speak for themselves. He shocked everyone in Kenosha and the league, but for any of us on the staff or his teammates, that's just Ryan."
For now, Orr's focus returns to his education and helping the Hornets become a championship contender within the MIAA. But he hopes the future can be as special as this summer was.
"I loved playing for the team and the city of Kenosha. We had amazing fans and a great atmosphere that made it fun to play every single night. I hope to return to the Northwoods League and possibly prove that a D-III kid can not only pitch but be a positional player as well and earn a spot in the everyday lineup."