The Baltimore Orioles were the class of the American League this season, winning 101 games and the AL East while securing the top seed in the postseason.
It was hard not to get excited for each game the Orioles played, with a different hero, an exceptional array of talent and defying the pundits on where they were in regards to their rebuild.
The Orioles have secured three awards from Sporting News, awards voted on by their peers, showing the unfathomable respect they earned through a long and grueling season.
The architect of the team is GM Mike Elias, who would win MLB Executive of the Year.
After coming aboard in November of 2018, Elias promised a full-scale rebuild from the bottom up. In 2022, the fruits of the process began to show, and 2023 showcased how much they had ripened.
Developing the top farm system over the past few years, Elias has made the right moves and signings and knows when to hold back. What’s scarier is that with the deep farm system, this team only looks to get better with the talent that is making their way up.
Drafting top prospects in catcher Adley Rutschman and infielders Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday, Elias has helped develop a pipeline of talent that will provide depth and trade chips to help make the Orioles a legitimate World Series contender.
If Elias is the architect, manager Brandon Hyde is the captain. After losing 110 games two seasons ago, Hyde’s overseeing, teaching and guidance led the young Birds to a 101-win season in 2023.
For his accomplishments, Hyde was voted as Manager of the Year for the second straight season. This season, the Orioles made the postseason for the first time in six seasons and won the AL East for the first time in nine.
The first manager (and only) hired by Elias, Hyde has been patient in the growth of this Baltimore squad. He knew when to stick with someone and when not to and helped guide the O’s through some tough stretches of baseball.
Of course, it also helps when you have star talent on the roster. The Orioles are blessed to have an abundance of talent, but the superstar of the bunch is none other than Gunnar Henderson.
After a slow start to the season, Henderson caught fire and never looked back. Becoming a dependable force in the lineup and making spectacular plays while playing both shortstop and third base. Henderson would lead rookies with 28 home runs, 66 extra-base hits, a 6.3 bWAR and 100 runs scored.
Henderson would culminate his season by hitting a home run in the ALCS at just 22 years of age. All of his accomplishments this season have earned him AL Rookie of the Year honors via Sporting News.
With awards season officially kicking off, eyes will be watching to see what players and/or front office personnel are honored for the strong and exciting season that the Orioles had.
We would like to congratulate GM Mike Elias, manager Brandon Hyde and infielder Gunnar Henderson on their achievements and honors for this past season. We hope this is the first of many more to follow.
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