The countdown is on for Opening Day, and that means it’s time for more predictions.
Last year, I predicted the Opening Day pitchers for all five of the Orioles’ organizational teams. Well, I’m here to try and predict each starter who will take the bump for the first game once again.
Let’s try and predict the four unknown Opening Day starters. But first, let’s review the man we already know will start for the Birds at Camden Yards on March 28.
Baltimore Orioles: Corbin Burnes – RHP
This is the only confirmed Opening Day starter at the time of me writing this article, and it was indeed the correct and only choice.
When the Orioles traded for Burnes, it was guaranteed that the crafty right-hander was going to get the Opening Day start against the Angels.
Manager Brandon Hyde announced the decision about a week ago to make it official.
Triple-A Norfolk Tides: Chayce McDermott – RHP
The biggest question mark of Opening Day for Norfolk is who is going to be taking the mound for game one. I think that manager Buck Britton should hand the ball to right-hander Chayce McDermott.
After being acquired during the 2022 trade deadline from the Houston Astros, McDermott has been arguably the best pitching prospect for the Orioles in recent history who has not made their major league debut. Mcdermott ended the 2023 season in Triple-A with the Tides.
McDermott posted a 3.10 ERA during the 26 games he pitched in 2023 but had a 2.49 ERA in the 10 games he pitched with Norfolk. The O’s No. 9 prospect held batters to a .156 batting average and had a WHIP of 1.01.
Cade Povich, the O’s No. 10 prospect, is the only other true options, and while he has proven himself on the farm, McDermott is the guy that should be on the mound come March 29.
Double-A Bowie Baysox: Alex Pham – RHP
While Norfolk was more straightforward, the rest of the Orioles’ affiliates took a little time to put together. Bowie was maybe the easiest of the three remaining, as right-hander Alex Pham is the perfect guy to pitch on April 5.
Pham ended the 2023 season with the Baysox and really showed out during his short stint. In his 14 games, Pham posted a 2.67 ERA in 60.2 innings pitched.
The O’s No. 25 prospect held batters to a .197 batting average, carried a WHIP of 0.99 and struck out 54 batters while only walking 17. That’s efficiency.
Other than someone like Trace Bright, I don’t see who else could get the Opening Day nod for the Bowie Baysox. Welcome to the Pham, Birdland.
High-A Aberdeen IronBirds: Kyle Virbitsky – RHP
Aberdeen was by far the hardest team to predict because of how there are so many directions that manager Felipe Rojas Alou Jr. can go, but I think the fit is Kyle Virbitsky.
Now, let me be clear. It’s a very unique prediction, as Virbitsky is not the most household name in the Orioles organziation prospect-wise.
The 25-year-old righty came over with Cole Irvin in the trade with Oakland last offseason. Virbitsky spent the entire 2023 season with Aberdeen and carried a 3.83 ERA in 25 games pitched, 103.1 innings. He held batters to a .215 batting average while striking out 103 and walking 40.
Virbitsky, although not ranked, was the 2023 IronBirds MVP and is someone who has more experience than the rest of Aberdeen’s staff. This will most likely put him in a good position to make that Opening Day start.
Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds: Teddy Sharkey – RHP
Recent 2023 draft pick Teddy Sharkey makes the most sense to be the Opening Day starter for Delmarva.
There isn’t a ton of stats to back up on why Sharkey deserves it because he only pitched in five games and 10 innings last season. However, Sharkey was unstoppable at Coastal Carolina, and honestly, with what we saw out of Sharkey last year, I don’t see where he doesn’t get the nod.
What do you think of our predictions? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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