TAMPA (October 6, 2023) – Former University of South Florida Bull Orion Kerkering has experienced a whirlwind two weeks, with its most recent peak coming on Wednesday night when the right-hander made his MLB Playoff debut with a scoreless inning as the Philadelphia Phillies swept the Miami Marlins in the National League Wild Card.
Kerkering needed just nine pitches to post a 1-2-3 relief appearance in the eighth inning of Philadelphia's 7-1 victory.
On September 22, Kerkering was named the recipient of the 2023 Paul Owens Award, presented annually to the Phillies' top minor league pitcher.