Chris Tillman, 2010 Topps Allen and Ginter #166

I'm not sure what I expected from Chris Tillman's season debut with the Orioles today, but I can safely say that I wasn't anticipating a shutout bid into the ninth inning. The righthander, who is still only 24 years old, dominated the Mariners with 8.1 innings of 2-hit ball and might have had the complete game if he had a competent defense behind him. As it was, he set a career high in innings pitched and struck out seven batters while walking just a pair. The Birds have never seen such an efficient performance out of Tillman. While it's just one game, and it comes against a fairly anemic Seattle offense, he looked like the vaunted prospect that the O's acquired from the Mariners in the Erik Bedard trade. Not only did he hit 97 mph on the radar gun, but he maintained that velocity after he topped 100 pitches. That's the kind of thing that Baltimore needs. Welcome back, Chris.