25 Orioles predictions for the 2025 season
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This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- In this space a year ago, I made 24 predictions about the Orioles heading into the 2024 season. Some came true, such as the team trading for a frontline starter (Corbin Burnes) and later reaching the postseason for a second straight year.
Some were close, like Gunnar Henderson finishing in the top three of American League MVP Award voting (he ended up fourth). And some ... we can just forget that they were made!
It¡¯s always challenging to forecast what will happen during a six-month, 162-game baseball season. But that won¡¯t stop us from trying.
Here are 25 O¡¯s predictions for '25.
1. The most notable remaining offseason move will be the signing of a back-end reliever
The Orioles could use another high-leverage arm following the departures of Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb.
2. Grayson Rodriguez will earn the Opening Day starting nod
Fully healthy, the 25-year-old right-hander will kick it into another gear in 2025, beginning with beating out Zach Eflin to start the March 27 opener in Toronto.
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3. Tyler O¡¯Neill will hit an Opening Day home run
Of course he will. The 29-year-old has homered on five consecutive Opening Days, an AL/NL record.
4. Heston Kjerstad makes it into the Opening Day lineup
Whether it¡¯s in the outfield or at designated hitter, the soon-to-be 26-year-old will start the first game after breaking camp with the O¡¯s for the first time.
5. Coby Mayo won¡¯t be on the Opening Day roster ... but he¡¯ll be up by mid-May
Baltimore¡¯s No. 1 prospect (MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 8 overall) will be squeezed off the roster to start the year, but when the 23-year-old infielder gets called up, it will be for good this time.
6. For the second straight year, the Orioles will have five All-Stars
Let¡¯s go with a trio of first-timers (Rodriguez, Colton Cowser and Jackson Holliday), Henderson going back-to-back years and Adley Rutschman making it three in a row.
7. Rodriguez will receive AL Cy Young votes for the first time
As long as he stays healthy, the righty should begin to reach his potential.
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8. Holliday will have a breakout season
The All-Star selection will only be the start for the 21-year-old infielder, who will learn from his 2024 rookie struggles.
9. Rutschman will bounce back from last year¡¯s second half
Expect the backstop¡¯s 2025 slash line to look closer to '23 (.277/.374/.435) than '24 (.250/.318/.391).
10. Henderson makes it a Most Valuable Oriole three-peat
The 23-year-old shortstop is a blossoming star who keeps getting better.
11. Henderson will also lead the O¡¯s in home runs
A 40-homer season isn¡¯t out of the question after he belted 37 in 2024.
12. The Orioles will make their biggest Trade Deadline move of the Mike Elias era
Last year¡¯s Eflin trade worked out well. This time, the O¡¯s will land a true ace.
13. Jordan Westburg¡¯s batting average will lead the Orioles
Not an All-Star this year, the 25-year-old will use that as motivation for a huge second half.
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14. F¨¦lix Bautista will set a new career high in saves during return season
Eased back into action at first coming off Tommy John surgery, ¡°The Mountain¡± will round into All-Star form and finish with at least 34 saves.
15. Cionel P¨¦rez continues to show off with more home run hat catches in the bullpen
An easy one.
16. Multiple O¡¯s win a Gold Glove for the first time since 2014
Cowser and Henderson are the front-runners, but another candidate is first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Speaking of which ¡
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17. Mountcastle slugs 20-plus homers for the first time since 2022
The modified left-field wall will be much friendlier to the righty hitter.
18. Mayo will get close to 20 home runs as well
Mountcastle won¡¯t be the only righty hitter to benefit from the wall change.
19. Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells will both contribute to the pitching staff in the second half
Don¡¯t forget about these injured right-handers, who should provide a late-season boost.
20. Brandon Young will be among the Orioles to make their MLB debut
The 26-year-old right-hander (Baltimore¡¯s No. 18 prospect) is on the cusp of the Majors.
21. Camden Yards attendance will hit 2.3 million for the first time since 2014
The upward trajectory will continue as the O¡¯s keep playing well.
22. A key player will sign a multiyear extension with the club
The Orioles will begin to get their young core locked up for the long term.
23. For the second time in franchise history, the O¡¯s reach the postseason in three straight years
It hasn¡¯t happened since 1969-71.
24. But it will again be as an AL Wild Card, like last year
The competition will be stiff in the AL East, so Baltimore will head to a Wild Card Series.
25. The Orioles finally win a postseason game ... and a postseason series
After quick exits each of the previous two seasons, the O¡¯s will win both their first playoff game and playoff series since the 2014 AL Division Series. And maybe they¡¯ll even go on a deep run.