SARASOTA, Fla. -- When he was coming out of high school in northern California, Matt Riley wasn't sure he was prepared for professional baseball.

"I thought if I went to junior college, it would increase my chances to be a better player and raise my stock a little, money-wise," said the left-hander, who was the talk of the Orioles' farm system last season. "I was taken in the third round in high school and I thought I wasn't quite ready."

Whether or not he was is now a moot point. Riley was certainly in high gear last May when he signed before the amateur draft out of Sacramento Junior College and went on to register some glittering statistics for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.

He struck out 10 or more in six of 14 starts, including one 15-strikeout game and another in which he fanned seven straight. He did not allow an earned run in his first five appearances and compiled a 1.19 ERA, including an 0.36 figure in his final four starts. No one had a home run against him and batters hit .152 overall.

"He's very difficult to hit because he's got the stuff to get hitters out," said Orioles director of player personnel Tom Trebelhorn. "All he needs is to become more consistent and fine-tune a few things."

With an above-average fastball, improved changeup and dazzling curve that he uses as an out pitch, Riley, still only 19, has the basic equipment to prosper. And he also has the will.

"One of his better attributes is he really wants to pitch in the big leagues and is determined to get there," said Dave Schmidt, his pitching coach with the Shorebirds and perhaps again this summer at Double-A Bowie. "He needs some polish, but he asks a lot of questions and really wants to get better."

Riley is known as somewhat of a flake in the clubhouse, but there is nothing funny about him when he goes to work. He is all business on the mound.

"I guess I'm kind of a free-spirited type," he said. "I have seven piercings and tattoos and I still like them. And I'm always talking it up around the team. I guess that's where the reputation comes from."

Riley led Sacramento to the California state junior college title, striking out 76 in 49 innings, and found life in the pros almost as successful.

"All my talent just fell into place," he said. "I pitched like I should have and it became fun. But it wasn't as easy as it looked. I had to battle hard every time out there."

After a winter of rehabilitation on a lower back problem that bothered him late last summer, Riley no longer is concerned about how ready he is. In fact, he is thriving on the growing attention he is being paid.

"You dream about stuff like this, being on the radio and in the newspaper," he said. "It's already a lot to handle, but a lot of fun, all the media and the press. I look forward to it. It's cool."

Pub Date: 3/23/99