A Slow Start…But Just Enough Time to Get Rolling

The Baltimore Orioles were supposed to be playoff contenders in a crowded AL East this season. Thanks to pitching injuries, failed free agent signings, terrible hitting approach, and bad luck, they find themselves last in their divisions at 14-24. They are tied for the fourth-worst record in baseball behind the White Sox, who are probably the worst run franchise in professional American sports, and the Rockies and Pirates, who already fired their managers after pitiful starts.

After getting swept by the Twins last week, the O’s were able to get a series win away against the Los Angeles Angels. They had some excellent performances from their starting pitchers along with timely hitting. There was a noticeable vibe shift in the dugout over the weekend. Winning close games and starting new celebrations are hopefully a sign of good things to come.

There’s just enough time for the boys to turn it around, but it needs to happen fast. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom, some players have stood out during this difficult stretch. BirdlandFlock wanted to highlight 5 Orioles who have performed well to start the year. Now, its the turn of the other players and management to step up to the level of expectation these 5 have set.

Tomoyuki Sugano is the Rotation’s Saving Grace

Sugano has been the unquestioned ace of a starting rotation that has been the worst in the MLB so far. He was penciled in as a number 3 or 4 starter due to his rookie status and lack of elite velocity. Untimely injuries to Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez has forced Sugano to embrace the “stopper” role in the rotation. When the O’s have gone on a losing streak, they have relied on Tomo to shut down the opposing offense enough for the Birds’ bats to build a lead. Tomo uses an effective 6-pitch mix to confuse hitters. He relies on pinpoint control to make up for his slower than average fastball and lack of strikeouts. The splitter has been his most effective strikeout pitch, accounting for 60% of his K’s. 

He leads the club with 4 wins, 46 innings pitched, and a 2.72 ERA. In his last 5 starts, he has gone at least 7 innings 3 times, and he is the only Orioles starter to get an out in the 8th inning or later this year. His 1.6 fWAR leads all Orioles so far in 2025. With Elfin back in the rotation, Sugano will now have a running mate at the top of the rotation.

Jackson Holliday is Making a Big Leap in Year 2

Jackson Holliday’s difficult rookie season is firmly in the rearview mirror. He has shown improved plate discipline by lowering his K% by 10% compared to 2024. His swing decisions have led to an improved batting average of .264 (3rd on the team), BABIP of .329, and a .746 OPS. He’s finally starting to put it together, with a big 2-HR performance against the Royals.

Jackson has earned the starting 2B job in the absence of Jordan Westburg. Holliday in recent series now has hit lead off against RHP and is finally getting consistent playing time against LHP. This is a source of frustration with many Orioles fans, but the general plan for the young Orioles lefty bats has been to first get used to MLB pitching against righties and platoon. Once the hitter has shown they can handle the jump, Manager Brandon Hyde will have no choice but to put them in the lineup everyday. This happened with Gunnar Henderson in 2023, Colton Cowser in 2024, and now 2025 will be Hollidays’ breakout year.

Cedric Mullins Continues to Entertain

Cedric Mullins has been the heart-and-soul of this team for years, always providing great defense, speed, and leadership. His bat has never gotten back to the level of his 30-30 season in 2021. He’s started this year with one of the best stretches of his career. Mullins leads all Oriole hitters in home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and walks. When Mullins is hot, his unique set of tools make him one of MLB’s best center fielders. He has moved down from the lead off spot to the bottom half of the order lately, but Mullins can be dangerous any time he gets on base. When this team gets down, Mullins sets the tone on the diamond and in the clubhouse. He led a players only meeting when the birds were at their lowest, airing grievances and holding everyone accountable for poor play.

Ryan O’Hearn Just Knows How to Hit

Ryan O’Hearn is another veteran hitter who has brought consistency at the plate and leadership alongside Mullins. Rhino has always been patient at the plate but he’s taken it to another level this year. O’Hearn is first on the team in walk rate, but does damage when he makes contact, smoking baseballs at a 52.5% hard-hit rate (balls hit over 95 mph). He is the O’s slash line leader, hitting an impressive .303/.395/.556 so far. A steady presence in the number 4 spot, O’Hearn’s selective approach has been refreshing. Many Orioles hitters in the past have taken a more aggressive swing for the fences tactic. O’Hearn will be the first to tell you he isn’t trying to do much at the plate. So far, he’s been the most consistent hitter in Birdland.

Felix Bautista Owns the Ninth Inning…When They Can to Him

The Mountain is back with a vengeance. Until yesterday when he gave up a solo HR in a game that was already over, Bautista hadn’t allowed a run since March 31st. He’s currently rocking a 2.25 ERA and averaging 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings. These numbers would be great for any pitcher, but the Mountain isn’t even back to his best form. He does not pitch back to back days, and his fastball has topped at 99 mph this year, instead of the 102 he was hitting before his elbow injury and subsequent surgery. The high heat and devastating splitter are still more than enough to make hitters look silly. Felix is 7/7 on save opportunities so far, but the lack of save situations has meant he hasn’t been used as much as he would like. It’s good that he is taking it easy to start the year after Tommy John surgery, but the Orioles would prefer to hand the ball to him with the chance to close the game a bit more often.