Kevin Orie
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Birth Name: Kevin Leonard Orie College: Indiana Personal:
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Despite monster stats in the minor leagues Orie has struggled to become a permanent fixture in the Majors. Orie has played his hardest but has received many unfortunate injury setbacks. Orie has remained positive throughout his career and sets his sights on the majors once again. Kevin Orie was a first round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1993. Later that season he made his debut with Class A Peoria. Orie played just six games at Class A Daytona in 1994 after tearing cartilage in his right wrist. After a so-so 1995 Orie was named a Southern League mid-season All-Star and went 1-for-2 with a homer in the game. Orie would miss part of the season due to his left wrist. At Indiana University Orie was a two time all Big Ten Conference selection where he majored in public and environmental affairs management. Prior to that Orie graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh, PA and in 1990 was an all-conference player in baseball, football and basketball. In 1997 Orie made his Major League debut and was one of the bight spots for the Cubs team. He ranked among rookie leaders in average, homers, doubles, triples, RBI, hits, and total bases. On opening day (April 1) he took the field against the Florida Marlins and went 1-for-3 while playing third base. His first hit was off of the Marlins’ Kevin Brown. Later in the season he hit his first homer off of Mets’ reliever Armado Reynoso. (June 11) His .971 fielding percentage was the second best in the NL. After a poor start to the 1998 season Orie was traded to the Florida Marlins on July 31 where he hit .263/.335/.423. An injury plagued 1999 season limited Orie to just 240 major league at bats but Orie played well when he was healthy posting a .254 average with six homers and 29 RBI and had a 10 game hitting streak from April 20-May 1. Orie was acquired buy the Dodgers in the off season before 2000 and went to Spring Training with them. He was released late in the season and signed with the Royals. Kevin would spend all of the season in the minors and after a foot injury on July 31 he missed the rest of the season. In 2001 Orie spent all season at AAA Scranton and compiled .293/.394/.444/.838 in 134 games. Kevin earned International League midseason and post season All-Star honors and was second in the league in on-base percentage and walks. Despite his 2001 numbers Orie started 2002 in the minors with the Chicago Cubs. At AAA Iowa Orie would hit .299/.358/.578/.936. After his contract was purchased September 4th Orie appeared in 13 games for the Cubs, nine of them starts. He went 9-for-32 during that time. Orie missed all of 2003 after undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Orie started 2004 with the Cleveland Indians in extended Spring Training after undergoing a second surgery on his right shoulder. He appeared in just one game at AA Akron before being released. (going 2-for-2) Orie then signed with the Houston Astros and played at AA Round Rock hitting .329/.384/.579/.963 in 22 games. Orie started the season with the Brewers minor league team but was released on June 16 despite hitting .344/.442/.644/1.086. Orie would then sign on with the Washington Nationals just six days latter and hit .361/.449/.615/1.064 the rest of the way. Kevin was invited to Spring Training for the Houston Astros in 2006. We went to see Orie and the Astros in their first exhibition game at Minute Maid Park. I got my photo with Kevin as well as autographs. (Thanks Kevin!) Orie should have made the Astros out of Spring but the team decieded to keep twelve pitchers. After two games in the minors Orie decieded to retire. |
