Aug 25, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) hits a home run during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
In constructing their roster, the Orioles have added depth, and right-handed power. They’ve got options at many positions. However, some players are so crucial to their success in 2026 that the Orioles can’t afford for them to fail.
Let’s look at those:
Adley Rutschman
Even though Samuel Basallo appears ready for prime time, the Orioles desperately need Adley Rutschman to rebound offensively. Despite his strong defensive season in 2026, a 1.3 defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in just 73 games at catcher, his offensive numbers continued to lag in 2025.
Rutschman missed significant time with a pair of oblique strains—one to his left and one to his right.
He hit just .220 in 90 games with a career low .673 OPS. Rutschman hit just nine home runs and drove in 29 runs.
That followed a disappointing second half of the 2024 season when he hit .207 with a .585 OPS, three homers and 20 RBIs.
In a rebound season, perhaps Rutschman will catch about 100 games and Basallo 60. Either could serve as a designated hitter and on those rare occasion that first baseman Pete Alonso sat out, Basallo could play first.
If Rutschman doesn’t bounce back, it’s not a certainty that Basallo, at 21 would be ready for 100-plus games at catcher.
The Orioles do have Sam Huff on a minor league contract as insurance, but they badly need a rebound from Rutschman.
Colton Cowser
The Orioles have two promising center-field prospects in the minor leagues, Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Nate George. Neither will start the year with the Orioles, and it’s possible that neither will play with the team in 2026.
That leaves Colton Cowser as the team’s centerfielder. If the Orioles get the 2025 version of Cowser (.196 batting average, .655 OPS in 92 games), that’s unacceptable.
If they get something closer to 2024, (.242 with a .768 OPS, 24 home runs, 69 RBIs) that’s better.
Cowser strikes out way too much. He’s struck out in 36.3 percent of his major league at-bats (322 in 887 at-bats).
He’ll have new hitting coaches in Dustin Lind and assistant Brady North, and maybe they can help him cut down on his whiffs.
Cowser missed more than two months after an ill-advised headfirst dive into first base, and then had a concussion after he hit the outfield wall in Philadelphia.
The Orioles signed Leody Taveras as a free agent, but Seattle sent him to the minors in early June, and he never played again.
They’re depending on Cowser to stay healthy and strike out less. His aggression on the bases is welcome. He stole 14 bases without being thrown out.
Shane Baz
Even though the Orioles didn’t trade Grayson Rodriguez for Shane Baz, fans will be monitoring Rodriguez’s starts for the Los Angeles Angels and comparing them with Baz’s.
The Orioles got outfielder Taylor Ward for Rodriguez, and they sent four top prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A pick to Tampa Bay for Baz.
Both Baz and Rodriguez have three years of club control remaining, but Baz pitched a full season
Baz was hurt by pitching at George M. Steinbrenner Field last season since Tropicana Field was unplayable because of damage caused by Hurricane Milton.
He had a 5.90 ERA at home and a 3.86 on the road. Baz has allowed just one earned run in 16 innings at Oriole Park.
Ryan Helsley
The Orioles will likely be without closer Félix Bautista for most if not all of the 2026 season. Bautista had labrum and rotator cuff surgery last August.
To replace him, the Orioles signed Helsley to a one-year, $14 million contract with an option for 2027.
Helsley had 105 saves for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2020-2025. Only three Oriole relievers — Gregg Olson, Zack Britton and Jim Johnson — have more.
The Cardinals traded Helsley to the New York Mets in July, and he had a 7.20 ERA for them. He said he won’t be tipping his pitches as he supposedly did in New York, and the Orioles can’t afford a closer who isn’t reliable if they expect to contend.
Without Bautista and the four relievers they traded in July — Bryan Baker, Seranthony Domínguez, Andrew Kittredge and Gregory Soto — the Orioles were left with few options to close games in the final two months of last season.
The Orioles were able to reacquire Kittredge from the Chicago Cubs, and perhaps they could find another closer from a relatively untested group.
Kade Strowd was impressive with a 1.71 ERA, but he didn’t close. Keegan Akin had eight saves but struggled as a closer. Dietrich Enns is also a possibility. He recorded two saves.
Perhaps the Orioles will convert a starter into a closer if they need to. However, they’re hoping Helsley can be a dependable ninth-inning guy.
Prospect notes: The Orioles have three top 100 prospects in ESPN.com’s rankings. Catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo is fourth, right-handed starter Trey Gibson is 46th, and outfielder Dylan Beavers is 57th.
Basallo and Beavers are ranked among the top 100 prospects by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline as well. Gibson is also ranked among the top 100 by Baseball America.
ESPN.com also ranks prospects 101-200. Outfielders Nate George (104) and Enrique Bradfield Jr. (135), right-hander Esteban Mejia (139), catcher/outfielder Ike Irish (157), left-handers Luis De Léon (172), and Boston Bateman (195) made the list.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com ranks the Orioles’ farm system 13th while Keith Law of The Athletic ranks it ninth.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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