The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They play in the American League East division of Major League Baseball. As with all MLB teams, the Orioles rely on a group of talented pitchers to help them win games. In this article, we will take a look at the key pitchers on the Orioles roster for the 2023 season.
Current Orioles Starting Rotation
The starting rotation is the group of pitchers that begin each game and typically pitch the first 5-7 innings. Here are the pitchers that make up the current Orioles starting rotation:
John Means
– Throws: Left-handed
– 2022 Stats: 4-7 record, 3.62 ERA in 14 starts
– Notes: Means is the Orioles’ ace and opening day starter. He missed time in 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery but is healthy again for 2023. Relies on his low 90s fastball, changeup and slider.
Kyle Gibson
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 10-8 record, 5.05 ERA in 31 starts for Phillies & Rangers
– Notes: Veteran innings-eater acquired in a trade from the Phillies. Brings stability to the rotation. Mixes a sinker, slider, changeup and curveball.
Drew Rom
– Throws: Left-handed
– 2022 Stats: 1-2 record, 7.71 ERA in 5 starts as a rookie
– Notes: Former top prospect getting his first shot in the Orioles rotation. Has an electric fastball but still polishing his secondary pitches.
Dean Kremer
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 8-6 record, 3.23 ERA in 21 starts
– Notes: Took a big step forward last season and established himself as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter. Uses a 95 mph fastball and sharp curveball.
Austin Voth
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 5-4 record, 3.04 ERA in 45 relief appearances for Nationals & Orioles
– Notes: Converted to a starter role after strong performance out of the bullpen last season. Has a five-pitch mix including a low 90s sinker.
Orioles Bullpen
While the starting rotation begins each game, the bullpen pitchers come in relief during the later innings to finish off games. Here are the key Orioles relief pitchers:
Felix Bautista
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 4-3 record, 1.84 ERA, 15 saves
– Notes: Emerged as the Orioles’ closer last season with his triple-digit fastball and devastating slider. Will begin 2023 back in the ninth inning role.
Dillon Tate
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 4-3 record, 2.81 ERA in 55 appearances
– Notes: Primary setup man to get the ball to Bautista. Relies on a mid-90s sinker to generate groundballs.
Cionel Perez
– Throws: Left-handed
– 2022 Stats: 7-1 record, 1.63 ERA in 55 appearances
– Notes: Excellent against left-handed batters who hit just .170 against him last season. Brings a 95 mph fastball and sharp slider from the left side.
Joey Krehbiel
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 5-4 record, 2.78 ERA in 60 appearances
– Notes: Emerged as a reliable middle reliever and setup arm last season. Gets groundballs with heavy sink on his two-seam fastball.
Bryan Baker
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 4-3 record, 3.34 ERA in 47 appearances
– Notes: Hard-throwing rookie was a nice surprise last season. Brings upper-90s heat and will pitch in high-leverage spots.
Other Pitchers to Watch
In addition to the pitchers above, here are some other arms who could contribute in Baltimore this season:
Grayson Rodriguez
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: Did not pitch in majors while recovering from injury
– Notes: Top pitching prospect in baseball. Expected to join the Orioles rotation at some point in 2023 after recovering from a lat strain. Electric fastball and elite slider.
DL Hall
– Throws: Left-handed
– 2022 Stats: 2-2 record, 6.65 ERA in 7 starts as a rookie
– Notes: Former first round pick. Still refining command but has an outstanding four-pitch mix when at his best. Could claim a rotation spot at some point.
Mike Baumann
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 1-3 record, 4.26 ERA in 29 relief appearances
– Notes: Made successful transition to bullpen last season and profiles as a middle reliever who can log multiple innings when needed.
Beau Sulser
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: 0-1 record, 5.90 ERA in 21 relief appearances
– Notes: Brother of Orioles’ reliever Cole Sulser. Provides rotation depth and could be spot starter. Advanced command of four-pitch mix.
Yusniel Diaz
– Throws: Right-handed
– 2022 Stats: Did not pitch in majors while recovering from injury
– Notes: Once a top prospect, injuries have hampered his development. If healthy, profiles as rotation or bullpen depth.
Conclusion
The Orioles have assembled an intriguing group of pitchers that offer a blend of experienced veterans, exciting young talents and high-upside prospects. The rotation could be their biggest strength if the young pitchers pan out and the bullpen appears deep and versatile. Pitching development will be key for the Orioles as they continue rebuilding toward contending status in the competitive AL East division. The performance of the pitching staff, especially the emergence of prospects like Rodriguez and Hall, will go a long way in determining the Orioles’ improvement in 2023.