Rutschman, Henderson ready to show greatness
20-year-old Holliday will be a star — whenever he gets his chance
SARASOTA, Fla. — Another spring training is in the books, and the Orioles’ six weeks in Florida were jam-packed with injury news, prospects showing off, franchise-altering changes, lots of wins and more.
But the real games start Thursday.
The 2024 season — the 70th anniversary of the club’s first season in Baltimore — is right around the corner, and the Orioles are hoping to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the late 1990s and win the franchise’s first World Series since 1983.
But before ace Corbin Burnes takes the mound opening day against the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards, let’s put a bow on spring training. Here are five things we learned from Orioles camp.
Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman are ready to explode
Spring training is too long, and the days are even longer.
But the Orioles’ two best players didn’t let the near-pointlessness of the end of camp get to them. Instead, they provided a preview of what could be a massive campaign for them both.
Gunnar Henderson clobbered a 451-foot homer Sunday to cap off a dominant spring after he missed the beginning with a minor oblique injury. Then, Adley Rutschman one-upped his buddy with a 460-foot blast.
The two players aren’t technically in the primes of their careers yet, but 2024 could be the season they each emerge as legitimate American League Most Valuable Player candidates. Both are in the top 10 among betting odds to win the award this season a year after Henderson finished ninth and Rutschman 10th.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that as the Orioles enter their stretch run, Henderson and Rutschman are competing with each other — and a few of the AL’s top players — for the coveted award.
Jackson Holliday is going to be a star … when he gets the chance
Manager Brandon Hyde and veterans James McCann, Kolten Wong and others all praised 20-year-old Jackson Holliday for his mature demeanor and professionalism. Holliday grew up around the game as the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, and it was clear throughout the spring that the sport’s top prospect wasn’t fazed by competing for the big league club.
His play on the field might have been even more impressive than
the way he carried himself off it.
He played errorless defense at a new position, second base. He posted a .954 OPS. He lined extra-base hits off All-Star Yusei Kikuchi, consistent Cy Young Award contender Zack Wheeler and top-end closer Raisel Iglesias. He held his own against National League Cy Young Award favorite Spencer Strider.
However, the team deemed it was best that he begin the year in the minors to improve his defense and against left-handed pitching. It also just so happens to align with the club likely gaining another year of Holliday’s service before he can become a free agent.
No matter the reason for his reassignment to the minors, Holliday is likely going to dominate Triple-A the way he did the lower levels, and when he comes up, it won’t be long before he’s doing the same in major league stadiums.
The team still believes in Jorge Mateo, and Ramón
Urías isn’t going away
Aside from any business factors, a major reason Holliday is beginning the season in Triple-A is because infielders Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías are valuable pieces that Baltimore doesn’t want to part ways with.
Mateo was one of the majors’ worst hitters during the last five months of the season, and perhaps his most valuable trait — his defense at shortstop — is moot given Henderson is expected to play there almost every day. But Mateo had a good spring as he transitioned into a super utilityman, showcasing his ability to play second base and all three outfield spots. In addition to his versatility and blazing speed, the Orioles believe Mateo brings value to the club.
Urías didn’t have his best 2023 season — a .703 OPS and worsened defensive metrics — but he was still somewhat valuable in a part-time role as he has been for the past three seasons. He isn’t flashy, although he won a Gold Glove Award at third base in 2022, but he’s a league-average hitter who can play all four infield positions, including two of them at a high level. He was one of the club’s best players this spring with a .994 OPS and twice as many walks as strikeouts — the latter has been an issue with his offensive profile — and earned his roster spot.
It’s unclear how the infield will shake out when Holliday is promoted, but for now, Mateo and Urías will receive plenty of playing time.
There remain plenty of unanswered questions
It was a great spring, but it wasn’t without concerns. Here are some:
Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells are coming off single-season highs in innings. How the trio holds up could be the difference between the rotation being a strength or a weakness.
Kyle Bradish and John Means are beginning the season on the injured list, and while the club expects them back early in the first half, it’s unclear whether they’ll be as effective as before or if they can hold up for another season. If they can, the Orioles’ pitching staff could be one of baseball’s best.
The bullpen might be the weakest part of this team with All-Star Félix Bautista out for the season as he recovers from Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Craig Kimbrel hasn’t been a dominant closer since 2021; Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe could be due for regression; Dillon Tate looked great in spring, but he missed all last season with a forearm-elbow injury; and Cionel Pérez, Mike Baumann and Jacob Webb are all out of options, limiting the club’s flexibility if the bullpen is taxed.
How Hyde handles his platoons will be a significant storyline. Does Ryan O’Hearn again always sit against lefties? Does Mateo always play against lefties again? Are Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg everyday players? Can he find enough playing time for prospect Colton Cowser?
Like Cano and Coulombe, O’Hearn broke out in 2023 and is out to prove that wasn’t a fluke, rebuking what the projection systems say about potential regression.
Can Mateo hit enough to make his defensive versatility and speed valuable?
Will Austin Hays play like he did in the first half (well) or the second half (not as well) of 2023? Can Cedric Mullins return to his All-Star 2021 form?
If the majority of these go in the Orioles’ direction, it should be another excellent season. But if more go the other way, it could spell trouble for their chances of repeating as AL East champions.
Spring training doesn’t matter, but the Orioles played so well that it’s hard to ignore
The Orioles were the AL’s best team in 2023, and they kept that going this spring by winning a Grapefruit League-best 23 games. That spring win total is the most in franchise history, besting the 20 the club won in 2002. It’s also the most for any MLB team since 2017.
It’s easy to dismiss almost everything that happens during spring training — as it should be. There is little correlation between the preseason and the regular season. However, with how deep the Orioles’ roster is and how well many players performed this spring, it’s not as easy to disregard what this team could be.
The Orioles enter the season with World Series aspirations, and they seem even more realistic now.