Baltimore Orioles Aim for Improved Pitching Rotation Next Season

The Baltimore Orioles enter the 2025 season with renewed optimism, particularly in regard to their pitching rotation. In recent years, the Orioles have struggled to put together a consistent and reliable pitching staff, but a series of promising developments has given the team hope for significant improvement next season. The organization’s commitment to a competitive rebuild, paired with emerging talent both from within their system and through external acquisitions, signals that Baltimore is poised to improve on the mound.

Recent History: A Struggling Rotation

The past decade has been a difficult one for the Orioles when it comes to their starting pitching. From 2016 to 2021, the team’s rotation struggled to produce consistent and effective outings. The lack of quality starters made it difficult for the Orioles to compete, despite having solid offensive units. Baltimore’s pitching woes were partly due to a combination of factors: lack of elite prospects coming through the minor league system, inconsistent performances from existing starters, and a failure to acquire key pitching talent in free agency or trade.

In 2021, the Orioles finished 7th in the American League East, and the team’s ERA of 5.59 ranked as the second-worst in the AL. Their inability to develop or acquire high-quality starting pitchers has been a key impediment to sustained success.

However, 2022 marked the beginning of a shift. A young core of players started to develop, and the front office began to look to the future more aggressively. A revamped focus on pitching development and analytics started paying off, and the Orioles began to see positive strides on the mound. The team’s 2023 season saw improvements in pitching, with the rotation showing flashes of promise even though the team still faced some instability in the starting staff. Now, heading into 2025, the Orioles hope that continued investment in pitching can lead to a truly competitive rotation.

The Current State of the Orioles’ Rotation

Heading into 2025, the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching rotation is projected to be in a much better place than it was just a few years ago. Several promising arms have emerged, both from within the organization and through recent acquisitions. The team’s young players have had an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the majors, and the Orioles are beginning to have a solid mix of emerging stars and established veterans to anchor their rotation.

Grayson Rodriguez: One of the most highly touted pitching prospects in the organization, Rodriguez made his MLB debut in 2023. Known for his upper-90s fastball and devastating slider, Rodriguez’s potential is immense, but his early career has been marked by inconsistency and a need to refine his command. Still, with another offseason to develop, Rodriguez is poised to become a key piece of the rotation in 2025, with hopes that he will take a significant step forward.

Kyle Gibson: In 2023, the Orioles signed veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson to provide stability to their pitching staff. While Gibson’s 2023 season was solid, he is expected to offer the team a steady presence at the back of the rotation in 2025. His veteran leadership and ability to eat innings will be essential, particularly if the Orioles’ young pitchers experience growing pains throughout the season.

Dean Kremer: Kremer, who made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2020, emerged as a potential building block for the team’s future rotation. After a difficult start to his career, Kremer showed flashes of the talent that made him one of the team’s top pitching prospects. In 2023, he took a step forward with a 4.25 ERA and showed better command of his pitches. As a key part of the rotation in 2025, Kremer will need to continue to refine his pitches and become more consistent if the Orioles are to make a push for contention.

Tyler Wells: Another young pitcher with considerable potential, Wells was used in a variety of roles in 2023, both as a starter and as a reliever. Wells has a solid fastball and slider combination, and his ability to miss bats makes him an intriguing option for the Orioles in 2025. If he can find a consistent spot in the rotation, Wells has the potential to be an effective mid-rotation starter for years to come.

John Means: Means is one of the most experienced members of the rotation and is coming off a tough couple of seasons following Tommy John surgery. The left-hander had been the Orioles’ ace before his injury, and while he may not return to his All-Star form immediately, the team is hopeful that he can provide a veteran presence and at least return to being a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm in 2025.

Key Areas of Focus for Improvement

While the Orioles’ pitching staff has shown promise in recent years, there are several areas that need to be addressed for the team to make a serious push for postseason contention in 2025.

Pitching Depth: While the Orioles have several promising arms at the top of their rotation, depth remains an issue. Injuries and underperformance can quickly deplete a starting staff, so the team will need to ensure that they have a deep stable of pitchers available, both in the majors and the minors. Having capable pitchers to step in during times of injury or poor performance will be critical for the team’s success. This could be addressed either through internal options, such as promoting top prospects, or through external acquisitions.

Command and Control: One of the key issues for many of the Orioles’ young pitchers has been a lack of command and consistency. For example, Grayson Rodriguez’s early struggles in 2023 were partly due to issues with his control. His potential is undeniable, but he will need to refine his command in order to become a consistent contributor at the major league level. The same could be said for other pitchers like Kremer and Wells. If the Orioles’ pitchers can improve their command and minimize walks, they will be much more effective in 2025.

Strikeouts and Missing Bats: The Orioles’ pitchers have struggled at times to generate enough strikeouts, especially when compared to the league’s elite staffs. The team’s strikeout rate in 2023 was middle-of-the-pack in the AL, but with the addition of high-strikeout pitchers like Rodriguez, Wells, and others, there is hope that the team can improve this area in 2025. Generating swings and misses is a key to getting outs in the modern game, and the Orioles will need to continue developing pitchers who can make hitters uncomfortable at the plate.

Veteran Leadership: The presence of a few experienced pitchers like Kyle Gibson and John Means will be critical to the Orioles’ success in 2025. These veterans provide the kind of leadership that can help guide younger pitchers through difficult stretches. Their experience will help the team avoid some of the pitfalls that come with relying too heavily on unproven talent.

Potential Additions and the Free-Agent Market

While the Orioles have a solid foundation in place, their pitching rotation still has some room for improvement. A potential avenue for growth could be through free-agent acquisitions or trades. While the team has not traditionally been a big spender in the free-agent market, their success in recent seasons has given them financial flexibility and the potential to make a big splash for the right player.

A key focus for the Orioles could be adding an experienced, front-line starter to complement their young pitchers. While the free-agent pitching market for 2025 has not fully materialized yet, the team could look to sign a high-quality ace or a mid-tier arm that could provide stability and add depth to the rotation. Targeting pitchers with good strikeout rates and the ability to perform well in a competitive division like the AL East could give the Orioles the edge they need to compete at the highest level.