Orioles’ bullpen has familiar names and some surprises

BALTIMORE—The biggest surprise on the Orioles’ Opening Day roster wasn’t an outside acquisition, but a rookie pitcher who had been optioned to minor league camp earlier this month.

Veteran left-hander Keegan Akin will start the season on the 15-day injured list with a strained right groin, and instead of major league veterans Jackson Kowar or Albert Suárez, the Orioles chose 24-year-old rookie Anthony Nunez as his replacement.

Nunez was drafted as a third baseman by the San Diego Padres in 2019 and didn’t become a pitcher until 2024. Last July, Nunez was acquired by the Orioles in the trade that sent Cedric Mullins to the New York Mets.

He was 1-4 with a 3.45 ERA and four saves in 15 2/3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk and threw a scoreless inning at Double-A Chesapeake.

In spring training, Nunez threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out six without walking a batter. He was put on the 40-man roster in early November to prevent him from declaring for minor league free agency, and was optioned to minor league camp on March 8^th.

“There’s always a chance for that to happen,” Nunez said. “They told me last night, and it’s a great feeling just being here, being with the guys … I can’t express my feelings right now. So much gratitude and ready to go.”

Manager Craig Albernaz said that there are several qualities that makes Nunez stand out.

“His maturity, his demeanor, always in control of his emotions, every single day,” Albernaz said.

“The stuff is real. I love the strike quality, does a great job with runners on base, controlling the running game. All those little things he does really well. Even when we sent him out, we were still talking about him. The way everything unfolded with Keegan’s injury, had an opportunity to come in and make an impact for us. We were excited for him.”

The Orioles’ roster decisions for Opening Day weren’t easy ones, Albernaz said. Right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo, who pitched 18 games for the Orioles last season, and left-hander Grant Wolfram, who appeared in 21 games, were added to the bullpen.

“Big league bullpens are always so volatile from year-to-year,” Albernaz said. “A lot of these guys just need the opportunity to go out there and pitch.”

Hiraldo had a 3.86 ERA in seven Grapefruit League games while Wolfram struck out 10 and walked one, allowing three hits in six scoreless innings.

“Extremely difficult,” Albernaz said of the competition for the final spots. “A lot of hard conversations with the guys. Obviously, there were some happy ones as well. They’re all tough when you make those decisions. All the guys that we informed weren’t making the team, the ones that are staying with us, they’re going to make an impact for us.

“That was the message that was conveyed. ‘You’re just not on the Opening Day roster.’ They were tough decisions, and that’s a credit to them. You can’t control everything, but the only thing you can control is how difficult you can make it for us and our front office.”

The Orioles designated right-hander Jackson Kowar for assignment. Kowar is out of options and needs to pass through waivers if he’s going to remain with the organization.

Albert Suárez, who played a key role in the 2024 season but missed most of 2025 with a rotator cuff injury, was reassigned to minor league camp. Suárez was not offered a major league contract after last season and signed a minor league contract with the Orioles in December.

“To keep a caliber of a pitcher like Albert Suárez is the organization is huge for us, Albernaz said. “As we’re looking at the bullpen construction and also our starters, we needed the depth, and someone who’s stretched out in Triple-A. Everyone saw last season, you can never have enough starting pitching.”

A year ago, Hiraldo was an unknown minor leaguer and now he’s here for his first Opening Day.

“Thinking about making the Opening Day roster wasn’t on my mind,” Hiraldo said through a team translator. “I was focused on doing my work, knowing they control all of that.”

Wolfram, who found out he made the team last week, is one of two left-handers in the bullpen. Dietrich Enns is the other. Hiraldo, Nunez, Yennier Cano, Rico Garcia, Ryan Helsley and Tyler Wells are the right-handers.

“Definitely some nerves,” Wolfram said. “You never really know for sure until they say something to you. I was just trying to go out there and do what I do best and get ahead of hitters and get outs.

“I wasn’t trying to focus on, ‘If I end up in Norfolk or if I make the team?’ I was trying to take it one pitch at a time, take it day-by-day and not try to look too far ahead.”

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