| R. C. Orlan | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Orlan with theColumbus Clippers in 2018 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1990-09-28)September 28, 1990 (age 35) Bryn Mawr,Pennsylvania | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
Robert Charles Orlan (born September 28, 1990) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher.
In high school in Virginia, he was All-District as a pitcher as a junior, All-State as a utility player as a senior, and All-District Academic three years. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 30th round of the2012 Major League Baseball draft out of theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2016, he led the Class A-AdvancedCarolina League inholds, with eight.
He pitched forTeam Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, in March 2017.
Orlan was born inBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, grew up inGlen Allen, Virginia, and is Jewish.[1][2][3] He is the son of Adam and Margie Orlan.[2] His father ran for theWolverines track team at theUniversity of Michigan, and became a corporate executive in New York.[4][5] His paternal grandfather was Herbert Orlan, who was born inthe Bronx, New York, to Abraham and Flora (Rothouse) Orlansky, and his paternal grandmother is Marilyn Orlan.[6] Orlan attendedDeep Run High School (2009) in Glen Allen, where he pitched and played first base and outfield for the baseball team while batting right-handed.[1][2][4][7] He was All-District as a pitcher as a junior, All-State as a utility player as a senior, and All-District Academic three years.[2] He threw afastball,circle change,curveball, andslider.[4] He was timed at 7.41 in the60-yard dash.[8] He was drafted by theLos Angeles Dodgers in the 44th round of the2009 Major League Baseball draft from Deep Run High School, but did not sign and instead elected to attend college.[1][2] For college, Orlan attended theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Management and pitched for theTar Heels.[1][2] As a freshman in 2010, he pitched 12.1 innings.[2][9] In the summer of 2010 he pitched for theBourne Braves of theCape Cod League, and had a 3.06 ERA.[2][10] As a sophomore in 2011, in 32 games he was 2-0 with a 3.79 ERA, striking out 24 batters in 19 innings.[2] In the summer of 2011 he again pitched for the Bourne Braves, and had a 1.50 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings.[2][11] As a junior in 2012, in 38 games (leading theAtlantic Coast Conference) Orlan was 8-1 with a 2.21 ERA, striking out 66 batters in 57 innings as he walked 11 hitters.[12][9] He was drafted by theWashington Nationals in the 30th round of the2012 Major League Baseball draft from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and signed in January 2013.[1][13]
Orlan began his professional career in 2013 with theAuburn Doubledays of the Low-ANew York-Penn League, starting 11 of the 13 games in which he pitched, and going 1-5 with a 3.65 ERA.[14] In 2014 Orlan pitched again for Auburn, going 1-0 with a 4.19 ERA in 17 relief appearances as he struck out 37 batters in34+1⁄3 innings, and pitched for theHagerstown Suns of the ASouth Atlantic League, going 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA in 6 relief appearances as he struck out 21 batters in14+1⁄3 innings.[13]
In 2015 Orlan pitched again for Hagerstown, going 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA and 4 saves in 27 relief appearances as he stuck out 68 batters in55+2⁄3 innings, and pitched for thePotomac Nationals of the High-ACarolina League, going 0-0 with a 2.20 ERA and a save in 8 relief appearances while striking out 17 batters in16+1⁄3 innings.[13] In 2016, he again pitched for the Potomac Nationals, going 5-6 with a 3.93 ERA and 8holds (leading the league) in 41 relief appearances (4th in the league) as he held his opponents to a .211 batting average.[15][16]
In 2017, Orlan began the season pitching for the Potomac Nationals, and was 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA with 5 saves and 29 strikeouts in 28 innings.[17] He was promoted to theHarrisburg Senators of the Double-AEastern League, where he was 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 innings.[17]
TheCleveland Indians drafted Orlan in the minor league phase of theRule 5 draft on December 14, 2017.[18] Orlan pitched for five minor league teams in 2018, primarily for theAkron RubberDucks in the Double-A Eastern League, going 1-0 with 3 saves and an 0.61 ERA in 23 games over29+2⁄3 innings, in which he walked 7 batters and struck out 39.[19]
The Indians re-signed Orlan to a minor league contract on October 25, 2018. The deal included an invitation to the Indians' 2019 major league spring training camp.[20] In 2019, Orlan pitched for theColumbus Clippers of the Triple-AInternational League, and was 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA across14+1⁄3 innings of work.[19] Orlan was released by the Indians organization on May 14, 2019.
Orlan was on the roster to pitch forIsrael at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier.[21] Although he did not pitch, his father was quoted saying "I am very proud of Team Israel, it has been a fun experience."[22]
Orlan pitched forTeam Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament in March 2017.[23] He relieved in two games, getting five outs while giving up one hit and one earned run.[24]