Baltimore Orioles’ Four Biggest Surprises After Season’s Brutal First Month

Coming into the 2025 season, the Baltimore Orioles were a team on the rise. After a breakout 2023 season and a competitive 2024 campaign, many expected them to contend in the ultra-competitive American League East. But April was a harsh reminder that progress isn’t always linear. With a record that hovered around .500 and moments of inconsistency both at the plate and on the mound, the Orioles have had to make adjustments on the fly.

Still, amid the early turbulence, the club has experienced a number of pleasant — and in some cases shocking — surprises. From unexpected player breakouts to bold pitching moves, these developments are shaping the identity of the 2025 Orioles. Here are the four biggest surprises so far and what they mean going forward.

One of the most thrilling revelations this season has been the emergence of Colton Cowser as a legitimate offensive force. The 24-year-old outfielder was a top-100 prospect for several years, but he struggled to find consistency during limited MLB action in 2023 and 2024. Entering 2025, he wasn’t even guaranteed a spot in the everyday lineup.

That changed quickly.

Cowser exploded out of the gate in April, showcasing his gap-to-gap power, elite plate discipline, and underrated speed. His standout moment came in back-to-back games against the Red Sox at Fenway, where he racked up 7 RBIs over two games, including a bases-clearing triple and a towering home run into the right field seats.

By the end of April, Cowser was batting over .300 with an OPS approaching .950 — one of the best marks among AL outfielders.

Why This Matters

Lineup Balance: Cowser gives the Orioles a left-handed bat with power, complementing right-handed sluggers like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson.
Outfield Depth: With Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander struggling or inconsistent, Cowser’s performance has stabilized the outfield picture.
Development Success: His breakout reflects positively on the Orioles’ player development system, which has quietly become one of the best in baseball.

If he maintains this pace, Cowser could be a Rookie of the Year candidate and a long-term fixture in the top third of Baltimore’s lineup.

When Félix Bautista went down in late 2023 with a torn UCL, the Orioles’ bullpen lost one of the most dominant arms in baseball. His 2023 season (1.48 ERA, 110 strikeouts in 61 innings) was historic. But Tommy John surgery and the long rehab process cast doubt over his ability to return to elite form in 2025.

So far, those doubts have been crushed.

Bautista made his season debut in late March and immediately reminded fans why he’s nicknamed “The Mountain.” His fastball velocity hit 99 mph consistently, and his devastating splitter looked just as unhittable as before. In several early April save opportunities, he struck out the side with ease — commanding the ninth inning with total authority.

Key Numbers (through April):

ERA: 1.02
K/9: 15.5
Saves: 6 in 6 opportunities

He also displayed improved pitch sequencing, keeping hitters guessing by mixing in a more refined slider.

Why This Matters

Bullpen Stability: Bautista’s dominance at the back end allows the Orioles to shorten games, which is crucial for a team with a young and evolving rotation.
Club Morale: His comeback has given the Orioles an emotional boost — a reminder of what they’re capable of when firing on all cylinders.
Postseason Implications: If Baltimore is in the hunt come September, having an elite closer gives them a huge tactical advantage in tight games.

His resurgence alone could swing multiple wins in the Orioles’ favor this season.

Starting pitching was a known area of concern heading into the 2025 season. Injuries and inconsistency had thinned the Orioles’ rotation depth, leading the team to call up Brandon Young — a 25-year-old right-hander who had been quietly climbing the ranks of Baltimore’s minor league system.

Young made his MLB debut on April 19 against the Reds, tossing four solid innings and allowing three earned runs. While the box score wasn’t eye-popping, his poise stood out. He worked out of jams, induced weak contact with a heavy sinker, and flashed a promising changeup.

Since then, he’s made two additional starts, each time showing incremental improvement. His ERA has hovered in the 3.80–4.20 range, but he’s consistently keeping the Orioles in games.

Strengths Noticed:

Low Walk Rate: Excellent command for a rookie.
Mature Pitch Sequencing: Mixes four pitches effectively, especially his sinker-slider combo.
Composure: Doesn’t rattle under pressure — an asset in the AL East.

Why This Matters

Long-Term Outlook: With John Means and Kyle Bradish both recovering from injuries, Young’s development is crucial to future rotation depth.
2025 Rotation Boost: Even if he doesn’t dominate, having a steady presence in the No. 4 or 5 spot helps reduce bullpen strain.
Internal Talent Pipeline: His rise supports the Orioles’ emphasis on developing from within, a key part of their rebuild strategy.

Young might not be an ace, but he looks like a dependable MLB starter — something every playoff-hopeful team needs.

When the Orioles signed Charlie Morton in the offseason, it looked like a smart veteran addition to anchor a young staff. The 41-year-old had been remarkably consistent over the past several years, and his playoff pedigree made him a natural leader.

Unfortunately, April was a disaster.

Morton went 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA, failing to make it past the fourth inning in several starts. Opponents were teeing off on his once-lethal curveball, and his fastball velocity had dipped noticeably.

By the end of April, Baltimore made the tough decision to remove Morton from the rotation and move him to the bullpen in a long-relief role.

Why This Is Surprising

Track Record: Morton had been one of MLB’s most dependable starters since 2017.
Injury-Free: No reports of arm issues — his decline appears to be performance-based, not health-related.
Club Expectations: The Orioles likely envisioned Morton mentoring their younger pitchers, not exiting the rotation in April.

Why This Matters

Resource Allocation: Morton is owed a sizable chunk of money, and his inability to produce strains the payroll.
Team Adaptability: Manager Brandon Hyde showed courage in pulling a veteran from the rotation — a move that’s paying dividends with others stepping up.
Bullpen Utility: Early returns from the bullpen have been encouraging. Morton’s experience and pitch mix could make him a valuable multi-inning reliever.

While disappointing, this shift might actually extend Morton’s career and help the team in ways that weren’t initially planned.

Though not one of the top four surprises, it’s worth noting that Adley Rutschman, the Orioles’ star catcher, has quietly taken another leap — especially behind the plate. His framing and pitch-calling have improved, and he’s gunned down several would-be base-stealers, thanks to refined mechanics and increased arm strength.

His ability to guide the Orioles’ young rotation — including newcomers like Brandon Young — can’t be overstated. It’s one of the intangibles helping this team stay competitive despite early adversity.

The AL East is brutal. The Yankees are loaded, the Blue Jays have firepower, the Red Sox are rebuilding quickly, and the Rays are always dangerous. Baltimore’s margin for error is slim, especially with their April struggles putting them a few games off pace.

Still, these surprises give fans real reasons to believe in a midseason turnaround:

Offensive depth is improving.
The bullpen is stabilizing.
Young arms are contributing early.
The front office is not afraid to make tough calls.

If the Orioles can find consistency in May and avoid major injuries, they’re still very much in the postseason mix.

While a rough April could have derailed the Orioles’ momentum from previous seasons, the emergence of Colton Cowser, the return of Félix Bautista, the promise of Brandon Young, and the adaptation of Charlie Morton paint a more complex — and ultimately hopeful — picture.

These surprises aren’t just headlines — they’re signals that the Orioles are growing into a mature, resilient ballclub. And as history has shown, teams that endure tough stretches early in the year often end up among the most dangerous when the games matter most.

If Baltimore continues to get unexpected contributions from across