- Drafted in the 5th Round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies
2022: Split the season between the starting rotation and closer role…appeared in 19 games and made 10 starts on the mound…went 5-7 with three saves and a 5.72 ERA…led the team with 91 strikeouts over 67.2 IP…led the AAC in batters struck out looking (32) and ranked third in total punchouts…ranked 32nd in the NCAA in strikeouts/9-inn. (12.10) and 56th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.79) while issuing only 19 free passes…struck out nine batters over 4.0 IP in relief on opening day vs. UConn (2/18)…struck out nine in his first start of the season vs. FIU (3/1)…struck out a season-high 10 in his next start vs. Brown (3/6)…struck out eight while logging a season-high 7.0 IP vs. Niagara (3/25)…named the AAC Pitcher of the Week on March 28th.
2021: Made 25 appearances on the mound, including one start...led all relievers with 50 IP and 62 strikeouts...went 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA...led the team with five saves...held batters to a .205 clip...season-long 4.2 IP at Houston (4/24)...season-high nine strikeouts at Memphis over 4.0 IP (5/8)...logged 14 appearances lasting multiple innings...went at least 3.0 IP eight times...recorded a pair of multi-inning saves during the AAC Tournament, including the championship vs. UCF (5/30) where he allowed just one hit over 2.0 scoreless IP...earned the save vs. No. 15 Florida in the Gainesville Regional (6/4)...was the winning pitcher in the Gainesville Regional Championship vs. South Alabama (6/7), allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts over 4.1 IP.
2020: Appeared in eight games during his freshman season out of the bullpen…had two outings on the season where he recorded a season-high three strikeouts…picked up his first collegiate save against Northwestern (2/29/20) …finished the season holding a 7.50 ERA through 12 innings of work.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Venice HS in Venice...played on varsity for coach Craig Faulkner and won back-to-back state championships in 2018 & 2019...had an overall career total of 214 Ks, 1.05 ERA, and a .157 opposing batting average...first team all-area, All-American as a senior...third place 7A player of the year as a junior.
RECRUITING: (Perfect Game Ranking: State-17th RHP, National-403rd Overall) (Prep Baseball Report Rank: State-102nd)
PERSONAL: Born Orion Kerkering on April 4, 2001 in Huntington Beach, California...son of Todd and Sheli Kerkering...has two older sisters, Samantha and Ariel...majoring in finance...also played soccer growing up...favorite MLB team is the Tampa Bay Rays and favorite player is Justin Verlander...models his game after Sergio Romo...superstitions include wearing the same socks and undershirt for games...enjoys playing MLB The Show.
