The 2022 campaign turned out to be a strong one for the Baltimore Orioles. Now, the O’s will look for further progress in what has been a long, but fruitful rebuild. In fact, two key pieces of the rebuild could see their first significant time in the Orioles rotation this year. Let’s take a closer look at
Related: Projecting the Red Sox Rotation for 2023
A Look at the Orioles Rotation in 2023
- RHP Kyle Gibson (10-8, 5.05 ERA, 7.7 K/9 in 2022)
- LHP Cole Irvin (9-13, 3.98 ERA, 6.4 K/9)
- RHP Dean Kremer (8-7, 3.23 ERA, 6.2 K/9)
- & 5. RHP Kyle Bradish/LHP DL Hall/RHP Grayson Rodriguez/RHP Austin Voth/RHP Spenser Watkins/RHP Tyler Wells
A lot for the Orioles rotation won’t be set in stone until the end of Spring Training. The two notable newcomers, Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin, should be exempt from that sentiment.
Baltimore inked former Phillies right-hander Kyle Gibson this past winter, after a up-and-down year and a half in Philadelphia. A ground-ball machine, Gibson will look for some consistency down the I-95 in Baltimore.
The Orioles also acquired left-hander Cole Irvin from the Oakland Athletics in the offseason. Irvin doesn’t possess overpowering stuff, but does own good control and a solid arsenal of pitches that uses to induce weak contact and chases. The left-hander did give up a lot of home runs in Oakland, though.
Right-handed pitcher and Team Israel arm Dean Kremer struggled mightily in 2021, but proved to be rather efficient for the O’s in 2022. Kremer posted a 3.23 ERA across 125.1 IP last year, and saw his walk rate come down to a much more respectable 2.4 BB/9. The 27-year-old, acquired from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade in 2018, may have cemented his role in the Orioles future last year
From there, things get a bit complicated. Baltimore has six pitchers that could slot in the back end of the rotation. Austin Voth pitched to the tune of a 3.04 ERA in Baltimore last season, in what was his season in the Majors to date thus far. Kyle Bradish, Spenser Watkins, and Tyler Walls all saw significant time in the O’s rotation as well in 2022.
But, top pitching prospects DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez also loom. Hall made his MLB debut last season, while Rodriguez — one of our top fantasy pitching prospects to watch this season — spent a healthy portion of the year injured. Both are highly-regarded, and are looked upon as future anchors of the Orioles pitching staff. But, will either of the two crack the rotation to start 2023?
