NISH alumnus scores MLB contract

A dream has come true for Chipper Menard.

The former New Iberia Senior High pitcher signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles last week. Over the weekend, he arrived at the team’s operations facility in Sarasota, Florida.

The first order of business was a rigorous physical examination process that began Monday and was to continue through at least another day.

“The week of the Major League draft, the Orioles reached out to my pitching coach to see if I had any interest,” Menard said. “They said they might follow up with a call, which came on Thursday.”

Menard and a group of prospects were tested and examined from 7 AM to 4 PM on Monday. They got a short break with activities resuming later in the evening.

“There has been so much going on,” he said. “I can only imagine how (busy) the rest of the week will be.”

Menard expects to remain in Sarasota for weeks where he’ll be working on pitching mechanics and learning about minor league baseball. The Orioles have rookie league teams in Bluefield (Va.) and the Florida Complex League, in addition to Class A, AA and AAA clubs.

Menard’s next official pitching appearance could come next March when he reports for spring training. The scouting report on the left-hander documented above-average spin on his two different breaking balls and an effective change-up.

“I think ‘pitchability’ gets overlooked,” he said. “Nowadays, some people will take guys who throw 96-100 mph over guys that might throw with a little less velocity, but can put the ball where they want.”

Baltimore (60-39), which is in first place in the American League’s Eastern Division, won the 2023 pennant with a 101-61 record, their first 100 win season since 1980.

“That’s the end goal,” Menard said. “To pitch at Camden Yards. Hopefully it doesn’t take more than a couple of years.”

Menard, who graduated from Louisiana-Monroe, pitched for the Warhawks and UL. He made 18 appearances (two starts) as a senior, striking out 52 in 47 innings and limiting opponents to a .210 batting average.

He started 10 games with 14 total appearances as a junior with 58 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Menard spent his first two seasons at UL, going 5-1 with three saves as a sophomore.

In high school, Menard pitched two years at DeRidder and two years at NISH. He was the District 3-4A MVP as a sophomore (11-2, 0.51 ERA) and threw a complete game one-hitter in the semifinals.

He had a 3-0 record and a 0.88 ERA as a senior before the 2020 season was cut short by COVID. The Yellow Jackets had a 10-2 record and were No. 4 in the state.

“Chipper is one of the best pitchers I’ve had the experience of working with,” said former NISH coach Eli Lewellyn. “The energy in the dugout is different when he’s pitching. No matter the opponent, he gives you a chance to win. He’s really fun to watch. He has that swagger and immense confidence.”