James Hoey (Photo: Todd Olszewski/ Baltimore Orioles)

James Hoey became the second former Rider University pitcher to make a Major League debut this summer when the Baltimore Orioles called him up on Wednesday, August 23, from Double-A Bowie.

And he made his debut Wednesday night at Camden Yards despite driving in a 2001 Honda Accord from Altoona, Pa., to Baltimore during the day.

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo called on Hoey in the top of the seventh inning in their game against the Minnesota Twins. There were two outs and runners were on first and third. He walked Twins’ star centerfielder Torii Hunter to load the bases. But Hoey blew a fastball past Jason Kubel to strike him out swinging and end the inning.

On June 26, Kevin Barry ’01 made his debut with the Atlanta Braves by throwing three shutout innings against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

There was speculation that Hoey would be called up to the parent club when rosters expanded on September 1. However, Baltimore swapped out rookie reliever Chris Britton and replaced him with Hoey, who came from Double-A Bowie.

In a story that appeared on MLB.com, Perlozzo said, "It was kind of two-fold. We wanted to get an earlier look at Jim Hoey, and we wanted to freshen Chris up a little bit. He's been going at it pretty hard [and] he had a long Winter Ball. We thought he needed a little break, and we wanted to see Mr. Hoey. Britton will be down there for 10 days and come back.

"In the meantime, we get to see another youngster."

The MLB.com story went on to say that Hoey seemed genuinely excited about his promotion--even the part where he arrived in a car that was too cramped.

"We were in Altoona. We were three and a half hours away," the 6-foot-6 Hoey said of his last stop. "I drove in a 2001 Honda Accord, coming down here. It was a little small for that, compared to a bus size, but whatever way I can get here."

For the full MLB.com story, read Notes: O's recall reliever Hoey.

It has been a whirlwind season for the 23-year-old Hoey, who was drafted in the 13th round by the Orioles in 2003 after his junior season at Rider. He started the 2006 campaign with the low Class A Delmarva Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League. The right-hander went 2-1 with 18 saves and a 2.54 earned run average while striking out 46 and walking only 10 in 27 games for the Shorebirds, an effort that earned Hoey a spot on the SAL Northern Division All-Star Team.

A promotion to high Class A Frederick followed for Hoey, who continued to impress by posting 11 saves and a scant 0.64 ERA in 14 games for the Keys, striking out 16 and walking five over 14 innings of work.

Continuing his rise through the Orioles’ farm system, Hoey was promoted to Double-A Bowie on August 1, just prior to a road trip that included a four-game, weekend series at Mercer County Waterfront Park against the Trenton Thunder. With more than 60 friends and family members cheering him on, the former Hamilton (N.J.) High School star entered the afternoon portion of a day-night doubleheader in the ninth inning and the Baysox holding a 7-5 lead.

He easily retired the first two batters he faced before the Thunder’s Kevin Howard hit a shot off Hoey’s right knee for a single. Hoey remained in the game and gave up an RBI single before striking out Jason Brown to earn his second save with Bowie.

Hoey appeared in eight games for the Baysox, earning four saves and sporting a 4.00 ERA, before being promoted to the Orioles.

"It's been a long year, coming from Low A. It's a little different to be up here now," Hoey told MLB.com. "The only thing I was shooting for was perhaps Double-A. That was my main concern--trying to get on the 40-man roster, to go to big league spring training. That's the only thing I was worried about."

What makes Hoey’s rapid ascension to the majors this year more amazing is that he was limited to just 21 2/3 innings over the previous two seasons because of arm injuries. Early into his second professional season, he was sidelined by an elbow injury that required ligament reconstruction--a procedure known in the baseball world as “Tommy John” surgery, named after the former major league pitcher.

Hoey compiled 12 wins and 10 saves during his three-year career at Rider. He finished 6-4 with a 2.24 ERA while striking out 63 and walking 44 over 88 innings during his junior season.