Orioles Top Pick Likely To Debut With IronBirds

Orioles top draft pick Kevin Gausman is likely to spread his wings first as a member of the .

MASNsports.com reported Thursday that the former LSU star is expected to pitch Monday for Aberdeen. The Orioles' short-season Class A affiliate visits State College, PA on Monday in a New York-Penn League game.

Gausman, 21, would make six three-inning starts for the IronBirds between Monday and the end of the 2012 season, according to the report.

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Gausman has been working out at the club's minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla.

Rick Peterson, the Orioles director of pitching development Rick Peterson, told MASNsports.com: "I thought what would be the downside if we put him on a six-man rotation, just so he can experience professional baseball rather than just throwing bullpens in Sarasota."

Using a six-man rotation, Gausman would be in line to start again Aug. 12 at .

Gausman is touted for a mid-90s fastball and an assortment of off-speed pitches. He's also a very superstitious pitcher—with a ritual of eating white powdered donuts between innings at LSU. Whether he continues that with the IronBirds or not will be played out over the next month.

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