Baltimore Orioles’ Best Newcomer Has Been Lone Bright Spot in Starting Rotation

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April 23, 2025

When the Baltimore Orioles entered the 2025 season, expectations were high. Coming off a competitive 2024 campaign, they looked poised to continue their upward trajectory in the American League East. With a core of young position players and a bolstered bullpen, many believed this could be the year Baltimore made a deep playoff push.

But baseball, as always, has a way of humbling even the most promising teams.

Injuries have ravaged the Orioles’ starting rotation early this season, derailing plans and thrusting the team into a state of uncertainty on the mound. However, in the middle of this turmoil, one unexpected figure has emerged as a beacon of consistency and promise: Brandon Young.

From Setback to Spotlight: Young’s Resilient Climb

Brandon Young’s rise to prominence is not a typical prospect story. The 25-year-old right-hander was never seen as a can’t-miss phenom. Undrafted out of high school, he attended Howard College and later transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette, eventually signing with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

His journey was disrupted in 2022 by Tommy John surgery, which cost him the majority of a crucial development year. But in many ways, the surgery set the stage for his current success. Young used the rehab process to refine his mechanics and develop a deeper understanding of his pitch sequencing.

In 2024, he quietly became one of the Orioles’ most reliable minor league arms. Splitting the year between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, Young posted a 3.57 ERA with 132 strikeouts across 111 innings. His control sharpened, his fastball gained some extra zip, and his curveball developed into a true out pitch. Baltimore noticed—and rewarded his progress by adding him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

Heading into 2025, Young wasn’t supposed to be in the major league rotation. But injuries to established starters and a surprising spring forced the Orioles’ hand. Now, less than a month into the season, he’s gone from long shot to vital cog in Baltimore’s plans.

Major League Debut and Composure Beyond His Years

Young’s MLB debut came on April 19 against the Cincinnati Reds. It was a modest stat line—four innings, three runs—but what stood out was his poise. He worked out of early trouble, stranded runners, and showed command of both sides of the plate. The Orioles rallied behind him to win the game 9–5, and Young’s performance earned praise from manager Brandon Hyde.

“Brandon competes,” Hyde said postgame. “He doesn’t get rattled. That’s what you want to see from a guy making his debut. He’s earned this.”

Since then, Young has pitched with remarkable consistency, something the Orioles sorely need.

Rotation in Turmoil

To understand the value Young brings, you have to look at the Orioles’ rotation situation in context.

Coming into 2025, Baltimore was banking on a top-four featuring Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, and John Means, with Tyler Wells or a newcomer filling the fifth spot. But things quickly went awry.

Bradish began the year on the IL with lingering elbow discomfort. Tyler Wells, after an up-and-down spring, landed on the 60-day IL. John Means suffered a setback in rehab. Kremer has battled inconsistency. Grayson Rodriguez has flashed brilliance but remains vulnerable to command lapses.

In the offseason, the Orioles tried to reinforce the rotation by signing Tomoyuki Sugano, the decorated Japanese right-hander. Though his NPB résumé is impressive, he’s still adjusting to the Major Leagues. Through four starts, Sugano has a 5.64 ERA and has struggled with pitch efficiency.

That’s why Young’s emergence has been so critical. While he may not be lighting up radar guns or dominating highlight reels, his ability to keep the Orioles competitive every fifth day has been invaluable.

Scouting the Tools: What Makes Young Effective?

Brandon Young doesn’t blow hitters away with velocity. His fastball sits around 92–94 mph, but it plays up thanks to late life and pinpoint control. His true weapons, however, are his curveball and changeup.

• Curveball: A true 12-6 breaker that Young uses to keep hitters off balance. He’s shown the ability to throw it for strikes or bury it when ahead in the count. It’s his go-to pitch with two strikes.
• Changeup: Arguably his most underrated offering, the changeup helps neutralize lefties. It mimics his fastball arm speed but arrives 8-10 mph slower.
• Cutter: Introduced during his rehab in 2023, the cutter gives him a glove-side weapon to jam right-handers and change eye levels.

Mechanically, Young is compact and repeatable. His calm demeanor on the mound also helps him minimize big innings. Pitching coach Chris Holt has been particularly impressed with Young’s maturity in pitch selection and sequencing.

“He understands what he can and can’t do,” Holt said recently. “He’s not trying to do too much. He knows how to pitch.”

Fanbase Reaction: A Silver Lining

For Orioles fans, who’ve seen top pitching prospects falter in the past, Young’s success feels like a refreshing change. Social media has taken notice, with many praising his gutsy outings and underdog story.

“He doesn’t have the hype, but he’s getting outs. That’s what matters,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another: “Brandon Young might not be flashy, but he might just be our most consistent arm right now.”

It’s that kind of sentiment that’s earned him growing support from the Camden Yards faithful. With every quality start, he’s making a case not just to stay in the rotation, but to be a key part of Baltimore’s long-term plans.

What’s Next for Young?

The Orioles have not publicly committed to Young as a full-time starter for the rest of the season, but at this rate, it would be hard to justify sending him down. His innings will be monitored closely, especially since this is his first full season post-Tommy John and with a major league workload.

Long-term, Young may not profile as a top-of-the-rotation arm, but his ceiling could very well be that of a mid-rotation workhorse—someone who consistently gives six competitive innings, keeps the bullpen fresh, and allows the offense a chance to win. And right now, that’s exactly what the Orioles need.

As the rotation continues to recover—Bradish is expected back by mid-May, and Means is targeting a June return—Young’s presence gives the Orioles breathing room and flexibility.

Building Blocks Amidst Adversity

The Orioles’ 2025 season is far from over, but it’s clear that the club’s path forward depends on its young talent—especially in the rotation. While Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson continue to power the offense, it’s the unexpected rise of players like Brandon Young that could define how far this team goes.

In a sport where pitching depth often determines playoff viability, having a player like Young step up could be the difference between October baseball and another year of what-ifs.

Whether or not Young remains in the rotation all year, he’s already carved out a role as one of Baltimore’s best surprises in 2025. And if the first few weeks of his big-league career are any indication, this is only the beginning of something special.