The Baltimore Orioles entered the 2025 MLB season with lofty expectations. After years of rebuilding, their franchise seemed on the verge of returning to the playoff spotlight. Fresh off a strong performance in the previous season, the Orioles were expected to be competitive in the American League East, a division filled with some of the most formidable teams in baseball. Yet, as the season unfolds, their hopes of a deep playoff run are rapidly crumbling. The combination of an underperforming lineup, key injuries, and unmet expectations has caused their playoff dreams to seem increasingly out of reach.
This piece will examine how the Orioles’ season has spiraled into disappointment, what went wrong, and what this means for the future of the organization.
In the winter of 2024, Baltimore Orioles fans were filled with optimism. After finishing 2024 with a respectable 85–77 record, they were finally emerging from their years of rebuilding. The core of the team, built around young stars like Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Grayson Rodriguez, had shown flashes of brilliance. The Orioles had made it clear that they were no longer in a rebuilding phase; they were contenders, and their future was now. The team’s front office made aggressive moves in the offseason, adding veteran pieces to shore up weak spots and deepen their roster.
A major signing was that of starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, who brought much-needed stability to the rotation. Additionally, the Orioles sought to improve their lineup by acquiring outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, a Gold Glove winner, to strengthen their defense and add leadership. With these moves, the team seemed poised to make a significant leap forward, especially in a division that featured the defending AL East champion Toronto Blue Jays and the always-dangerous New York Yankees.
For Orioles fans, the message was clear: the team was done with mediocrity. They were aiming for playoff contention and, with a bit of luck, could even make a run at the AL East title. The young stars were developing, the pitching staff was improved, and the front office was showing a willingness to go for it. All signs pointed to a promising year.
As spring training ended and the season began, however, it quickly became clear that the Orioles’ plans for a playoff push were in jeopardy. Despite all of the optimism, the team’s performance was a far cry from what fans had anticipated. By late April, the Orioles found themselves struggling to stay above .500, and the cracks in their lineup were becoming glaringly obvious.
A major source of concern early in the season was the underperformance of the offense. The Orioles’ lineup, which had been expected to hit for both average and power, was failing to produce. While Adley Rutschman was continuing to demonstrate his elite hitting skills, there was little production from the rest of the order. The Orioles’ typically powerful offense had turned into an inconsistent, strikeout-prone group that lacked the firepower necessary to compete in a high-octane division like the AL East.
Gunnar Henderson, who had been expected to take the next step in his development, was struggling with consistency. His power numbers were down, and his batting average hovered around the Mendoza Line. The once-promising young slugger had looked lost at the plate for large portions of the season. Meanwhile, other key contributors, such as Ryan Mountcastle and Anthony Santander, were not providing the run production that the team needed.
Injuries also played a role in derailing the Orioles’ playoff hopes early in the season. The pitching staff, which had been a strength in 2024, was riddled with injuries. Grayson Rodriguez, who was expected to be the ace of the staff, missed several weeks with a shoulder injury, leaving a huge hole in the rotation. Though Kyle Gibson had been a solid addition, he was not able to carry the rotation on his own. The rest of the starting pitchers struggled to find their rhythm, and the bullpen, which had been a strength the year before, began to show signs of wear.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the Orioles’ 2025 season has been the underperformance of their veteran players. After an offseason in which the team made strategic moves to bolster its lineup, the veterans brought in to provide leadership and stability have, for the most part, failed to meet expectations.
Kevin Kiermaier, for example, has been a defensive asset, but his bat has been a major letdown. Signed to add depth to the outfield and provide a veteran presence, Kiermaier’s offensive struggles have left a significant gap in the Orioles’ lineup. While his defensive prowess has helped limit the damage in the field, his inability to contribute offensively has been one of the key reasons why the team has failed to score runs consistently.
Then there is Adam Frazier, whose acquisition was expected to bring stability to the middle infield and solidify the batting order. Yet, Frazier has looked a step behind at the plate, failing to capitalize on the opportunities he’s been given. His lack of production has left the team scrambling to find a reliable option at second base, and his struggles have been emblematic of the team’s inability to get the consistent hitting they need.
The lack of offensive production from veterans like Kiermaier and Frazier has forced the younger players, including Rutschman and Henderson, to shoulder an undue amount of the burden. As a result, the Orioles’ lineup has lacked the balance necessary to compete against the top teams in the AL East.
In a division as competitive as the AL East, a team can’t afford to have a weak starting rotation. The Orioles’ pitching staff, once a source of optimism, has turned into a glaring weakness as the season progresses. While the emergence of Grayson Rodriguez was expected to solidify the rotation, his injury woes have prevented him from becoming the ace the team so desperately needed.
Even when Rodriguez has been healthy, the starting staff has lacked consistency. Kyle Gibson, though a reliable veteran presence, has had difficulty navigating through tough lineups. Other starters, such as Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells, have struggled to make it through the middle innings, leaving the bullpen to pick up the slack. Unfortunately, the bullpen, which was one of the team’s strengths in 2024, has been plagued by inconsistent performances.
The inability of the Orioles’ starting rotation to consistently get deep into games has put an immense amount of pressure on their bullpen. Relievers who were once effective have started to falter, leading to blown saves and late-inning collapses. Without the ability to trust their pitchers to keep them in games, the Orioles have struggled to string together victories.
The struggles on the field have also been exacerbated by questions surrounding the team’s leadership and coaching. Manager Brandon Hyde, who had been heralded for his ability to get the best out of his players during the rebuilding years, has come under scrutiny as the team has underperformed. Though it’s unfair to place all the blame on Hyde, some of the decision-making regarding player roles and bullpen usage has been questionable at times.
The coaching staff’s inability to get the best out of the team’s veterans and to help the young players make adjustments has been a topic of discussion. The lack of a clear identity for the team — a team that was once known for its power hitting and young talent — has left many fans and analysts questioning whether the Orioles have the right leadership to navigate these troubled waters.
As we move into May, the Orioles find themselves slipping further and further out of playoff contention. Their record has dipped below .500, and they are already a handful of games behind in the highly competitive AL East. The Yankees, Blue Jays, and even the upstart Tampa Bay Rays have all separated themselves from the Orioles, who now face an uphill battle just to secure a Wild Card spot.
Despite flashes of brilliance from their young stars like Rutschman and Henderson, the Orioles have struggled to put together a full, cohesive team effort. The offense is too inconsistent, the pitching staff too fragile, and the veterans are not stepping up when it matters most.
In a season where expectations were high, the Orioles’ inability to capitalize on their talent and potential has led to frustration. Their playoff dreams are not just in jeopardy; they appear to be all but extinguished. If they fail to turn things around, 2025 will go down as another missed opportunity in a season that started with so much promise.
While the 2025 season is likely headed for disappointment, there are still reasons to be optimistic about the Orioles’ long-term future. The team’s core of young players, led by Rutschman and Henderson, remains one of the most exciting in baseball. If they can continue to develop and the front office can make the right moves in the coming seasons, the Orioles could very well be back in contention in the near future.
However, the failure of this season may lead to difficult decisions for the front office. Do they make a trade deadline move to add a veteran starter or a power bat, or do they continue to trust their young talent and rebuild for the future? With the team’s current trajectory, it seems as though the latter option may be the most prudent.
The Orioles will need to regroup and reassess in the offseason, but one thing is clear: the 2025 season will likely be remembered as a lost opportunity for a team that had the potential to do much more.
The Baltimore Orioles’ 2025 season was supposed to be a year of progress and success. Instead, it has become a cautionary tale of how quickly expectations can be dashed in a competitive league. With an underperforming lineup, key injuries, and lackluster performances from both the young and veteran players, the Orioles are quickly seeing their playoff dreams slip away.
While the season is not yet over and anything can happen in baseball, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see a path back into contention for the Orioles in 2025. However, the franchise remains committed to building a championship-caliber team, and though this season may be a setback, the future still looks bright. The hope is that this year’s disappointment will serve as a stepping stone, a lesson in resilience and a reminder of how difficult it is to break through in the highly competitive AL East.
For now, though, the 2025 season is one of missed opportunities, and the Orioles must regroup, refocus, and find a way to restore their playoff aspirations in the seasons to come.
