 He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Orioles in 1994 and began a slow, but steady, rise through the Orioles farm system with stops at Bluefield (rookie leagues), Frederick ("A" ball), Bowie ("AA") and Rochester ("AAA").He made his major league baseball debut with the Orioles September 15, 1998, pitching five innings as the starting pitcher against the Texas Rangers.He gave up three runs and did not get a decision in the game.