Summing up the Orioles’ season with Rico Garcia

Rico Garcia appeared in 75 games, tied for third most in the American League, and tied for fifth most in the majors. Those 75 appearances were the most by an Oriole since Jamie Walker’s team record 81 in 2007.

Garcia had a brilliant start to his season, not allowing a hit in his first 11 outings, most by an Oriole reliever. He allowed just one hit in his first 20 games, becoming the first pitcher since 1900 in baseball to allow one or zero hits in his first 20 outings.

He also held his first 32 right-handed batters hitless, allowing three walks and began the season with 11 straight hitless appearances at home, best in team history and tied for the third longest in baseball since 1900.

Garcia also had success against left-handed hitters, who hit only .170 against him, the fourth-best mark in baseball and allowed just 15.8 percent of inherited runners to score, seventh lowest in the majors.

While his first two months of the season were outstanding, his ERA in June (6.97), July (4.91) and August (.375) were disappointing. He rebounded in September with a 2.16 ERA.

In June and July, he allowed eight home runs in 21 1/3 innings but didn’t allow a home run after July 29th (20 1/3 innings).

Overall, Garcia was 5-1 with a 3.09 ERA and his first 10 major league saves. At 32, it was his first complete 162-game season, and he received at least one vote in the Most Valuable Oriole award voting, after Pete Alonso collected all the first-place votes.

He and Yennier Cano were the only relievers to stay with the Orioles throughout the season.

Previously, Garcia had pitched for Colorado, San Francisco, Oakland, Washington, the Mets and Yankees, and six games for the Orioles in 2022. He rejoined the Orioles in August 2025 and appeared in 20 games.

During the Orioles’ final weekend at Yankee Stadium last month, Garcia spoke about his season.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Question: Was this your best season in the major leagues?

Rico Garcia: “For sure, it was definitely a roller-coaster of emotions, from the beginning to that middle part and then to now. It’s a great learning season. On top of that, just adding confidence to me, being a big leaguer. A lot of the time, it’s been one bad outing and then get [Designated for Assignment].

“This year, I had to battle through that rough patch. I think it was just a great season, personally.”

Q: Looking back to that first month or six weeks of the season, could you have pitched any better?

Garcia: “I feel like you can always pitch better, but it was a good stretch. Like I said during that time, just try not to think too much into it just because it can change at any time. It bit me in the butt a little bit. That beginning part of the season was just a great confidence for me.”

Q: The team didn’t have a closer for much of the year with Ryan Helsley and Félix Bautista out and Tyler Wells traded. How was it getting to close for the first time?

Garcia: “I had that closer experience on a lower scale in ’24 when I was with [Triple-A] Rochester. I was the closer there. Being able to manage those emotions at that time, I think helped a lot for this year.

“My name’s called. I need to get these outs for the team, and that’s all it really came down to.”

Q: Was there something different about closing in the minor leagues and closing in the majors?

Garcia: “Honestly, it was the same. It was just not putting too much pressure on myself. I think when guys put too much pressure on themselves, it takes them out of their element, I guess you could say. Being ready when my name is called, that’s all I could do and just help the team win.”

Q: How difficult was it to have a really good season in a bad season for the team?

Garcia: “Obviously, at the end of the day, we want to win, and I want to win. It was one of those things where regardless of what I’m doing, I just need to keep being ready to help the team win. All we can do as players is, regardless of whether we’re having a good or bad season, how can we help the team at that specific day or game?”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com