Pete Alonso was unanimously voted the MVO, Most Valuable Oriole. There’s another MVO on the team, Most Versatile Oriole, and that’s Blaze Alexander. Alexander was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks just before spring training, and despite playing only 11 games in the second half of the season because of stints on the injured list for […]

Question: The poor draft choices and/or ongoing development of prospects has been well documented, but it is interesting to ponder the prospects that we have traded elsewhere who then blossomed or at least matured into viable players. Kyle Stowers comes to mind as he never fully received an opportunity at the big league level until […]

I’ve been fortunate to have good doctors throughout my life, and that includes the dentists, even though it concerned me when they removed my wisdom teeth. There was one visit I regretted, though, and it had nothing to do with what happened in the dentist chair. I had an appointment on October 6th, 1966. I […]

I went there to write about the Orioles’ scouting efforts. It was an unforgettable trip. This post includes an audiobook-style reading of my award-winning article. (Note from John: In 1991, the Baltimore Sun sent me to the Dominican Republic to write about the Orioles’ scouting efforts there. It was among the most memorable and poignant […]

The stadium was shaking, maybe more than it ever did before. The hit was clutch, and perhaps a bit unexpected. October 4th, 2026 in Milwaukee? Or October 3rd, 2014 in Baltimore? In both cases, the fans celebrated in a way that won’t be forgotten. The postseason produces moments that outshine those that happen in the […]

Question: Are sports one of the only “businesses” [maybe tech, finance or auto CEO?] where you can perform poorly and still get a massive raise?  I’m thinking especially of Henderson with the jump from $8.5 to $14.1 million, but some other O’s players fit this category as well.  And someone gets a raise even without […]

The Orioles used 60 players this season, 10 fewer than last season’s record of 70. That’s still a lot of turnover. Twenty-one of those 60, more than a third, had bit roles, position players who appeared in fewer than 20 games or pitchers who threw in six games or fewer. A handful of those 21 […]

Question: I’m a fan since 1954. No matter what Pete Alonso’s final WAR is, his impact on the team in addition to his stats leads to this question: Without Pete, would the O’s have won any more than 60-65 games this season? From: Neal Myerberg, Old Greenwich, Connecticut Answer: Neal, as you may know, I […]

One of the many mysteries of the 2026 season was the failure of outfielder Dylan Beavers to capitalize on his impressive final six weeks of 2025. Beavers remained a rookie this season, and while his batting average was roughly the same (.226 in 2025, .227 this year), his on-base percentage plummeted. In 2025, Beavers played […]

Before the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees meet in their best-of-five American League Division Series, which is really the AL East Series, I wanted to review what happened to the Boston Red Sox in their wild-card series against the Yankees that served as the first AL East elimination round. My wife, Barb, asked […]

Gunnar Henderson had the worst statistical season of his career, hitting .226 with a .715 OPS, 24 home runs and 60 RBIs. Henderson, who made $8.5 million is in line for a handsome raise to $14.1 million in his second season of arbitration eligibility according to MLBTradeRumors.com The Orioles have seven arbitration-eligible players, and two […]

I think we all know which areas the Orioles need to improve upon during what figures to be an unpredictable offseason. All of them. OK, maybe we can assume that at least one of the team’s rehabbing closers will be ready to open the season next March, but you know what happens when you assume. […]

Question: How much difference does a full uninterrupted spring training make to a player? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Gunnar Henderson has had two subpar years when not having a full spring training — 2025 due to injury and this year due to the World Baseball Classic. From: @therealmuncie Answer: Graham, I think […]

As they do every year, the Orioles will be looking for additional starting pitchers over the offseason. One contender hasn’t made a major league start but was impressive in his eight September relief appearances with the Orioles. Left-hander Luis De León is the team’s No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and was 0-2 with […]

Question: Now that the Orioles completed another season, what should we do with another second-to-last-place season? Ugh.Regards. From: Connie Z. Harrisburg, PA Answer: Connie, I think the Orioles need help in several areas to contend in 2027. Assuming Trevor Rogers and Chris Bassitt are gone, they’ll need another starter or two. They might audition Luis […]

Near the end of the Orioles’ media session reviewing the 2026 season, there was a question about Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson’s playing through a right wrist injury. After president of baseball operations Mike Elias lauded Henderson, who missed only three games during the season, he talked again about an issue that’s hurt the team in […]

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias and manager Craig Albernaz met with the media on Monday to discuss the 2026 season. Here are excerpts from the session: Elias on Gunnar Henderson’s sore right wrist: “Well, it certainly never helps when you’re fighting through something. Credit to Gunnar, he stayed out on the field all […]

Question: Rich, I don’t know why Trevor Rogers hasn’t been extended. From what I’ve read, he wants to return to Baltimore. Do you know anything that the fans don’t know?  Do you think he’ll be back? From: Steve Inge  Answer: Steve, I don’t know why Trevor Rogers hasn’t been extended, either. As I’ve written many […]

One day into the offseason, Mike Elias is off to a bad start — one he should have avoided. At Monday’s end-of-season news conference, the Orioles’ president of baseball operations was asked about 28-year-old left-handed starter Trevor Rogers, who is likely to pursue the free-agent market after saying repeatedly that he’d like to stay in […]

BALTIMORE—With the Orioles’ second consecutive losing season concluded, president of baseball operations Mike Elias is faced with the likelihood of a shortened offseason to make changes to the team. “It’s a very bitter feeling, especially doing this two years in a row,” Elias said at the Orioles’ end of season news conference on Monday. Elias […]

NEW YORK—One of the great seasons in Orioles’ history is over. Not a great season for the team, but a wonderful season for Pete Alonso. Alonso finished with 43 home runs, tied with Rafael Palmeiro for eighth most in team history. He had 113 RBIs, the most by an Oriole since Chris Davis’ 117 in […]

Question: Given what he’s done in year one and off the field, do you think Pete Alonso ranks among the best signings in team history? Or where do you think it ranks? From: Mark Brodinsky Answer: Mark, that’s an interesting question. For the first year, it’s been an outstanding signing. The best comparison to it […]

NEW YORK—After waiting nearly three hours, the Orioles-Yankees game was rained out. Since the game will not be made up, the Orioles end the season with a 79-82 record. The game was originally scheduled to be played at 3:20 p.m., but because of an unfavorable forecast, the start time was moved up to 1:05 p.m. […]

NEW YORK—The Orioles and New York Yankees are still scheduled to play their 162nd and final game of the 2026 season. Originally, the game was supposed to begin at 3:20 pm, but due to the unfavorable weather forecast, the starting time was moved up to 1:05 p.m. Rain continues to fall and the tarp remained […]

NEW YORK—Gunnar Henderson didn’t play in the second game of Friday night’s doubleheader against the Yankees — just the third game he didn’t play this season. After the postgame interviews were concluded, Henderson walked back into the clubhouse and agreed to discuss his disappointing 2026 season with a handful of Oriole reporters. This interview has […]

NEW YORK—The Orioles game on Sunday with the New York Yankees will start at 1:05 p.m. instead of the originally scheduled 3:20 p.m. start. Heavy rain is forecast for Sunday, but after consulting with Major League Baseball, the game will start earlier. The Yankees said that the game time changed was “due to current forecast […]

NEW YORK—In what could have been the last game of the Orioles’ season, Brandon Young continued to show that he’s a key part of the team’s future. With Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson and Christian Encarnacion-Stran not playing, Young didn’t have many quality bats to depend on. In five innings, Young allowed a run on two […]

NEW YORK—Trevor Rogers threw four innings in what could have been his last game with the Orioles, and he got lots of offensive support in a 10-2 win over the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Friday. Friday’s first game was in place of the scheduled Saturday […]

NEW YORK—The Orioles were officially eliminated from playoff consideration on Thursday, and manager Craig Albernaz said he spoke to the team on Monday. “It’s not a place we wanted to be,” Albernaz said. “We won’t have this feeling again. The guys have been through a lot.” Albernaz mentioned the slew of injuries the team suffered […]

With any possibility of the Orioles playing beyond this weekend gone, it soon will be time to think about the offseason and plans for 2027. First, there are three games against the Yankees remaining on the schedule, and the Orioles would like to win all of them to finish at .500. In 2015, the Orioles […]

Question: If there is a delayed start to spring training and the season due to the lockout, will MILB (minor league baseball) start spring training and season on time? From: Kelly B from Cockeysville Answer: Kelly, if the major league season is delayed, it won’t affect the minor league season. The minor leagues is under […]

With an unfavorable weather forecast for this weekend, the Orioles and New York Yankees have rescheduled their Saturday night game, making it part of a doubleheader that will begin at 4:05 p.m. on Friday at Yankee Stadium. Trevor Rogers (10-11, 4.07) pitches Game 1 for the Orioles. Brandon Young (9-5, 3.62) pitches Game 2. Game […]

Pete Alonso almost had me believing it was possible — that he would lead the Orioles to three more wins and that the White Sox would lose the rest of their games to hand Baltimore the last wild-card spot. Having remembered seeing Phillies manager Gene Mauch get introduced in the audience for the Ed Sullivan […]

BALTIMORE—The Orioles won two games on Wednesday, and the Chicago White Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals, 5-4, keeping the Orioles’ faint chances of a playoff berth alive for at least another day. The White Sox can eliminate the Orioles from playoff contention if they beat the Royals on Thursday afternoon. “I know odds […]

Question: Both Trevor Rogers and the Orioles have expressed the desire for a long-term deal. What’s the hold-up? From: Marc Sauri Answer: Marc, David Lorenzo also asked this question. I know Trevor Rogers says he’s interested in returning, but I don’t know about the Orioles’ part. Craig Albernaz says he would like to see Rogers […]

BALTIMORE—For the moment, the Orioles remain alive in the wild-card race, but just barely. Entering the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Orioles would have had to win their last five games while the Chicago White Sox lost their last five. The Orioles managed a 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 10,562  at […]

BALTIMORE—Orioles’ catcher Samuel Basallo’s season is over. After getting hit by a foul tip in the mask during Monday night’s game, Basallo has been placed on the 7-day concussion injured list, retroactive to Tuesday. He was hit in the fifth inning, and left the game after the sixth. “Concussions are so finicky,” manager Craig Albernaz […]

BALTIMORE—In his first season with the Orioles, Pete Alonso was unanimously elected as Most Valuable Oriole. Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles last December, became the ninth Oriole to hit 40 home runs on Monday night. Besides the 40 homers, he leads the American League with 108 RBIs and is […]

Even though an expected December 1st lockout may preclude a Rule 5 draft, the Orioles still have choices to make as they construct a 40-man roster for the offseason. Despite the cancellation of the 2021 Rule 5 draft, the Orioles did add six players to the 40-man roster on November 19th — future closer Félix […]

He was a pitching stalwart on terrific Oriole teams before a drug habit shattered his life. Click the play button below to hear me read a 2006 article I wrote about his fall. Sammy Stewart probably would’ve had a long and successful career as a starting pitcher in the major leagues if he’d played for […]

BALTIMORE—The Orioles’ scheduled game with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night was postponed by rain. The teams will play a split doubleheader on Wednesday with the first game scheduled at 1:35 p.m. and the second game for 6:35 p.m. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m. for the first game and 5:30 for the second. […]

BALTIMORE—While the Orioles’ major league team has disappointed, the team trotted out some of its best minor league performers on Monday night to hand out awards. Double-A Chesapeake teammates shortstop Wehiwa Aloy and left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa won the awards for best position player and best pitcher in the organization. “I feel like this is […]

During my many years as a frustrated intramural jock, I had a close friend and teammate who had an interesting philosophy when things were not going our way. He would gather everybody together and deliver this one-sentence pep talk: “Okay guys, it’s time to change the emphasis from losing to winning.” Everybody laughed and we […]

BALTIMORE—While Pete Alonso hoped the Orioles would have had a much better record, it’s hard to imagine a more personally satisfying one for him. After signing a five-year, $155 million contract, Alonso, who started slowly and had just four home runs through April, hit two on Monday night, pushing him to 40, and gave the […]

Question: I think Mike Elias is a great talent evaluator, and I think the Orioles are lucky to have him. I like what he is saying about listening to new voices from the outside. Of course, we will have to see if he hires someone with autonomy to actually make these changes. What are your […]

Back in April, Jeremiah Jackson hit a foul ball into the Orioles’ dugout that broke the jaw of manager Craig Albernaz. The Orioles would go on to win that game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a grand slam by Jackson. As much as he was hurting, Albernaz returned to the dugout to congratulate Jackson and […]

BALTIMORE—José Barrero is in the Orioles’ lineup at second base for Monday night’s game. Barrero will be the 60th player used by the team. Barrero is with the Orioles because two players, Blaze Alexander and Jackson Holliday are on the 10-day injured list. Alexander, who became the father of a baby girl on Thursday, is […]

BALTIMORE—A long day for Baltimore sports fans ended more than nine hours after it started with losses by both the Ravens and the Orioles. The Orioles’ season, which ends next Sunday in disappointment, had a few interesting story lines. There was the first Baltimore appearance by the fastest pitcher in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob […]

Question: My pick for MVP is the Polar Bear and Unsung Hero is Coly Mayo. What do you think about these men receiving the honors? From: Mark Sprucebank Answer: Mark, I assume you mean the Most Valuable Oriole award and not the American League’s Most Valuable Player. I think Pete Alonso will get some down […]

BALTIMORE—Félix Bautista was activated before Saturday’s game though he didn’t pitch in it. When Bautista appears in a game, it will be the first appearance for the 31-year-old since July 20th, 2025. Bautista underwent surgery on his rotator cuff and labrum in August 2025, his second major surgery in less than two years. He had […]