The Baltimore Orioles have experienced a rollercoaster of success and failure over the past several seasons, which has led to some skepticism surrounding their ranking in the MLB. For a franchise that once boasted a rich history, including World Series titles and a consistent competitive presence in the American League East, the Orioles have found themselves in a rebuilding phase that began in earnest around 2018. However, as of 2025, it appears they are on the cusp of a resurgence, raising questions about their placement in MLB power rankings in recent years.
The Orioles’ Decline and the Start of a Rebuild (2018-2019)
From 2012 to 2016, the Baltimore Orioles were competitive in the American League East, making playoff appearances in 2012 and 2016 and consistently finishing around .500. However, by 2017, cracks in the team’s foundation began to show. Injuries, underperformance, and the aging roster led to a disastrous 75-87 season. In 2018, the bottom completely fell out. The Orioles finished the season with a league-worst 47-115 record, marking one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Recognizing the need for a rebuild, the Orioles front office, led by general manager Mike Elias, shifted into full-scale rebuilding mode. The decision to focus on player development, particularly in the farm system, was a recognition that the team would need to go through some lean years to build a competitive future. While this approach was sensible in the long term, it inevitably led to Baltimore’s ranking dropping to the bottom of the MLB standings for the next few years.
The MLB Power Rankings During the Rebuild (2018-2021)
Throughout the 2018-2021 period, the Orioles were widely considered one of the weakest teams in baseball. Their ranking in the MLB power rankings fluctuated from the very bottom to slightly above, but they were rarely in the conversation as a team that could contend. While there was a shift toward improving the minor league system and developing young talent, the Orioles’ major league roster was in disarray.
In 2018, the Orioles’ disastrous record made them a constant fixture in the MLB basement. Their 47-115 record led many analysts and fans to give them the worst ranking in all of baseball. The 2019 season offered a bit more hope, as the team improved slightly, finishing with a 54-108 record. While the win total still indicated a rebuilding squad, it was evident that some young players, such as Trey Mancini and Renato Núñez, were showing flashes of talent. However, the Orioles still found themselves in the lower half of MLB power rankings, as their pitching staff was among the worst in the league, and their lack of overall depth kept them from emerging as a real threat.
The Turning Point: 2020 and the Unexpected Surge
In 2020, a strange season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic saw the Orioles outperform expectations. With a 60-game regular season, the Orioles finished with a respectable 25-35 record, a far cry from their previous years of poor performance. While they didn’t make the playoffs, the team demonstrated an ability to hang with more competitive teams, particularly in the first half of the season. This gave hope to the fanbase, especially considering the youth infusion from players like Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, and John Means, who had emerged as solid contributors.
Despite the improvement, the Orioles were still ranked toward the lower half of MLB power rankings. The power rankings at this time still largely viewed the Orioles as a rebuilding team without enough talent to make a real impact. The 2020 season was viewed as a potential fluke rather than a sign of lasting success, and most analysts predicted that the team would regress in 2021.
2021-2022: The Struggles Continue, but There’s Hope
The 2021 season didn’t live up to the brief hope generated by the 2020 campaign. The Orioles finished the season 52-110, once again near the bottom of the MLB standings. While certain players, such as Mullins and Means, continued to shine, the overall lack of talent on the roster was evident. The Orioles were still very much in the middle of a rebuild, and their MLB power rankings reflected that, with the team often ranked in the bottom five or six teams.
However, 2021 did mark the beginning of a more significant turnaround. The Orioles’ farm system had improved dramatically under the leadership of Elias, with highly rated prospects like Adley Rutschman (a catcher widely considered the top prospect in baseball) and Grayson Rodriguez (a pitcher who would soon become one of the top pitching prospects in the game) developing well. While the MLB team was still struggling to string together consistent success, there was a growing sense of optimism surrounding the organization.
In 2022, the Orioles started to turn a corner. They finished with a 83-79 record, a significant improvement from their previous years of futility. Players like Mullins, Austin Hays, and Mountcastle emerged as core pieces, and the pitching staff began to show signs of life, with John Means returning from Tommy John surgery and the emergence of promising young arms like Rodriguez. The team was no longer a basement dweller, and for the first time in years, the Orioles began to be seen as an up-and-coming team.
Despite this improvement, many analysts were still hesitant to fully buy into the Orioles’ success, and they were still ranked in the lower middle tier of MLB power rankings heading into 2023. The reasoning behind this skepticism was understandable: While the Orioles showed promise, they hadn’t yet proven that they could consistently compete with the heavyweights of the AL East, such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
2023-2025: The Orioles Rise, but Their Ranking Still Raises Eyebrows
By 2023, the Orioles were firmly in the mix for a playoff spot, making the Wild Card race a regular feature of their late-season storylines. Their 2023 campaign saw them win 101 games, securing a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2016. Rutschman had firmly established himself as one of the top catchers in the league, while Mullins, Hays, and Mountcastle had become a dangerous offensive core. On the pitching side, the emergence of Rodriguez and other young pitchers like Kyle Bradish added credibility to the team’s overall competitive nature.
With their improved performance, it was inevitable that the Orioles would be ranked higher in MLB power rankings, yet many still questioned whether the team was legitimate or whether they had simply capitalized on a weaker division. Critics often pointed to their lack of experience in high-stakes situations and their relatively underwhelming roster depth compared to perennial powerhouses. Despite winning the AL East in 2023, there remained doubts about whether the Orioles were truly ready to compete for a World Series title, or if they had simply taken advantage of other teams’ underperformance.
By 2025, the Orioles’ standing had become even more contentious. Having solidified their place among the top teams in the league, they had moved into the upper echelon of MLB’s rankings. Still, some doubted their ability to maintain that level of success against teams with deeper, more experienced rosters. The Orioles’ young players, while talented, lacked the track record of postseason success that many other top teams possessed.
The ranking of the Orioles over the last five years, especially when compared to teams like the Yankees or Houston Astros, has often been a topic of debate. On one hand, the Orioles’ resurgence from the depths of the rebuild has been remarkable, and their top-ranking prospects have translated into significant major league contributions. On the other hand, the team’s lack of postseason experience and the skepticism about their sustained success against established MLB dynasties make their ranking a bit more controversial.
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