For all the emphasis the Orioles have placed on developing their own starting pitching, the last homegrown pitcher before David Hess to make his debut in the starting role he'd been groomed for in the minors was Mike Wright Jr. nearly three years ago.
In the interim, pitchers like Hess have watched from the minors, built up fine resumes and hoped that their own debut could be as simple — and successful — as his proved to be Saturday. Hess debuted not in a mop-up relief cameo, and not as an emergency call-up, but with a genuine opportunity to pitch well and earn a rotation spot going forward.