The Baltimore Orioles’ glory days are now a distant memory. Originally the struggling St. Louis Browns, the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954 but didn’t establish itself as a powerhouse until a decade later.
In 1966, the Orioles captured their first World Series title, led by Frank Robinson, who had just arrived from the Cincinnati Reds. Robinson dominated in his first American League season, winning the Triple Crown with a .316 batting average, 49 home runs, and 122 RBIs, earning AL MVP honors. Baltimore then swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic.
From 1969 to 1971, the Orioles won three consecutive AL pennants in an era before divisional play and expanded playoffs. They secured a World Series victory over the Cincinnati Reds in 1970 but suffered losses to the “Amazin’” New York Mets in 1969 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971.
Over the next 12 years, Baltimore made two more World Series appearances, falling to the Pirates again in 1979 before defeating an aging Philadelphia Phillies squad in 1983. That Phillies team featured Hall of Famers Joe Morgan, Mike Schmidt, Tony Pérez, and Steve Carlton, along with baseball’s all-time hits leader, Pete Rose.
Orioles Hope New Generation Will Restore Former Glory
And then—silence.
The Orioles, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2012 and have lost 11 straight in the postseason, are striving to reclaim their past dominance with a blend of young talent and experienced veterans.
After winning 101 games in 2023 and 91 in 2024, Baltimore’s 2025 campaign is off to a rough start due to a wave of injuries. Most notably, MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson is dealing with an intercostal strain, putting the 23-year-old shortstop’s availability for Opening Day in jeopardy.
Friday brought even more bad news, as the Orioles suffered injuries to two key pitchers—an especially tough blow for a staff already trying to compensate for significant losses. They lost 2024 All-Star Corbin Burnes, a 15-game winner, to free agency, while John Means and Tyler Wells are both out after undergoing Tommy John surgery (Means has since signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Guardians).
With Burnes now a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Orioles had planned to turn to Grayson Rodriguez, their 2018 first-round pick (11th overall out of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas), as their new ace.
Pair of Key Pitchers Could Be Out For Lengthy Periods
After posting a 13-5 record with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 116 2/3 innings last season, 6’5”, 230-pound right-hander Grayson Rodriguez seemed ready to take over as Baltimore’s ace. However, after experiencing triceps soreness in his pitching arm and feeling “sluggish” and “flat” following his latest spring training start, his status took a turn for the worse.
On Friday afternoon, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced that Rodriguez will begin the season on the Injured List. While no return date was given, Hyde reassured that there were no apparent ligament issues in the 25-year-old’s elbow.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s setback wasn’t the only blow to Baltimore’s pitching staff. In January, the Orioles signed veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million deal after he posted a 2.80 ERA over 70 2/3 innings in 74 games for the St. Louis Cardinals last season. Kittredge, who spent his first seven years with the Tampa Bay Rays and was dominant in 2021 with a 1.88 ERA, will now miss “many months” after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, according to Hyde.
Meanwhile, infielders Jorge Mateo (recovering from elbow surgery) and Jordan Westburg (back spasms), along with $49.5 million free-agent outfielder Tyler O’Neill (ribcage soreness), have resumed baseball activities. However, their availability for Opening Day remains uncertain.