Heading into 2025, the Orioles will still be searching for their first playoff win since 2014. Baltimore won 91 games last season and made it back to the MLB Postseason thanks to a strong offense. However, that offense wasn’t enough to get past the Royals in the AL Wild Card Round. It was a tough blow for an Orioles team that may look very different come next season. Here’s our 2024 Orioles recap.
The Offense
| Stat | Number | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 786 | 4th |
| Home Runs | 235 | 2nd |
| OPS | .751 | 4th |
| Whiff% | 24.4% | 10th |
| Hard Hit% | 42.4% | 2nd |
The Pitching
| Stat | Number | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Starters’ ERA | 3.77 | 5th |
| Relievers’ ERA | 4.22 | 23rd |
| Strikeouts | 1,380 | 13th |
| Whiff% | 25.4% | 15th |
| Chase% | 28.4% | 17th |
The Good
Much like in 2023, the Orioles had one of baseball’s best offenses last season. And, Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson were once again leaders ot the lineup.
Santander had himself a career season, as he belted a career-high 40 home runs en route to his first AL Silver Slugger award. It came at an opportune time for Santander, as well, given that his big year came just before he entered free agency.
Henderson, meanwhile, hit 37 home runs for the Orioles and finished third in the American League in bWAR (9.1), behind Bobby Witt Jr. (9.4) and Aaron Judge (10.8).
Aside from those two, a couple of first-round picks broke out.
Colton Cowser hit 24 home runs and 51 extra-base hits for Baltimore, filling out their outfield quite nicely given the dips in production from ex-Oriole Austin Hays. Jordan Westburg hit 18 home runs and slugged .481 last season.
As for the Orioles’ pitching, Baltimore picked up former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes before 2025 with the idea he would solidify their rotation. Burnes did just that, as he pitched well (2.92 ERA, 181 K over 194.1 IP) in the regular season. He threw eight strong innings in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Round in what turned into a tough loss for Burnes.
The Orioles sorely needed Burnes, especially since Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish lost time last season. Interestingly enough, the Oriole starter who logged the second-most innings last season was Albert Suarez, who did tours in Korea and Japan before returning to the United States last season.
Baltimore also picked up a pitching insurance policy for 2025 last July in Zach Eflin. Eflin pitched quite well, as the ex-Ray owned a 2.60 ERA and like in Tampa, controlled the zone with efficiency.
The Bad
On paper, Adley Rutschman didn’t have a bad season. Rutschman finished 2024 with 19 home runs, 41 extra-base hits, and a 3.4 bWAR overall. However, Rutschman’s 2024 could be considered a tale of two seasons. The 26-year-old hit 16 home runs and recorded a .780 OPS over the first half, netting him his second All-Star appearance. Then, the second half came.
Rutschman finished 2024 with the 15th-worst OPS (.585) in the Majors over the second half, and just a .282 OBP. His slump led to the Orioles pushing Rutschman down the order to the bottom half of the lineup late
The former first-overall pick was not the only top pick on Baltimore to struggle in 2024. Jackson Holliday made it to the Majors last season a little over one season in the Minors. However, Holliday didn’t have the success of some of his fellow rookies, as he only had a .565 OPS last season over 60 games.
Holliday hit better in the summer after a cooldown back in Norfolk (AAA). However, not all was well overall. Holliday’s 33.2% K% and 32.9% Whiff% rates are somewhat concerning for the future. But, there’s time for the 21-year-old to adjust.
Pitching-wise, there likely wasn’t a worse story for Baltimore in that category than Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel was signed last December to replace Felix Bautista, who missed all of 2024 after Tommy John surgery, as O’s closer. The 36-year-old never had plus command but last season, it was not pretty at all for Kimbrel. Kimbrel walked 31 over 52.1 IP and fell in and out of favor throughout the year.
Eventually, Kimbrel was cut by Baltimore in the summer. The Orioles relied on midseason acquisition Seranthony Dominguez to finish out the year as closer.
Early Projected Lineup for 2025
- C: Adley Rutschman/Gary Sanchez
- 1B: Ryan Mountcastle
- 2B: Jackson Holliday
- 3B: Jordan Westburg
- SS: Gunnar Henderson
- OF: Tyler O’Neill (LF), Cedric Mullins (CF), Colton Cowser (RF)
- DH: Ryan O’Hearn/Adley Rutschman
- SP: Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich
- RP: Felix Bautista, Seranthony Dominguez, Yennier Cano, Keegan Akin, Cionel Perez, Gregory Soto, Kade Strowd, Bryan Baker, Albert Suarez
The Orioles kept Santander and traded for Burnes on the hopes it would pay off in the playoffs. It didn’t, and now Baltimore must deal with the aftermath.
Baltimore will likely not have Santander back for 2025. Former Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill was signed in December to prepare for a world without Santander. O’Neill hit 31 home runs last season and should benefit from the left field wall in Camden Yards coming back in next season.
The O’s also signed Gary Sanchez, a catcher/DH, to replace James McCann. Baltimore needed a second catcher who can play often given how the team deploys Rutschman. However, Sanchez is very different compared to McCann, the latter of whom is a significantly better defender. Sanchez has more power.
As for the O’s pitching staff, Baltimore saw Corbin Burnes head to free agency, leacing a big hole atop their rotation. Baltimore signed Japanese star pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to a one-year deal to add depth, sorely needed given the O’s won’t have Kyle Bradish next season. Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery and likely won’t be available next season.
But while the Orioles won’t have Bradish for 2025, closer Felix Bautista likely will be back after missing last season.