The 2025 season is underway, and the Baltimore Orioles set records on Opening Day for the franchise.
Overall, the excitement of the lineup came through. The bullpen had some strong moments, and after three starts, the starting pitching has shown a bit of what it’s like to be on a roller coaster.
As we begin the march of the season, let’s jump in and look at some side notes that have happened this past week.
A six-pack for Tyler O’Neill
One of the biggest signings the Orioles made in the offseason was that of outfielder Tyler O’Niell.
A small side of history for his supporters coming into 2025, O’Niell had homered in five straight Opening Day games.
As if it is a way to jumpstart his season, O’Niell continued his trend by completing his six-pack and homering in the Birds’ 12-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day.
If O’Niell remains healthy, he is now on pace for 81 home runs after going 0-for-3 in the Birds’ 8-2 loss last night.
The Mirage of Heston Kjerstad
During spring training, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde raved about Heston Kjerstad‘s bat and promised that he would get plenty of opportunities to play.
After the first two games of the season, Kjerstad had an outfield assist and no at-bats to his resumé. He entered as a defensive replacement for O’Niell on Thursday and went hitless with a sacrifice fly in his lone start in game three.
With Gunnar Henderson rehabbing in Triple-A Norfolk and eligible to return to the big league club on April 3, the question remains: Is Kjerstad the odd man out?
Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías are out of options, and Ramón Laureano is the right-handed backup option in the outfield. With nothing left to prove in Triple-A and the return of Henderson next week, this is a unique situation to keep an eye on.
Grayson Rodriguez’s progress
The Orioles’ ace in the making, Grayson Rodriguez, is working his way back from a sore elbow.
After a cortisone injection, Rodriguez resumed throwing after being shut down for a little over a week. He has been doing long toss and has had two “short box” sessions (pitching off a mound to a catcher at a short distance).
Sunday will see Rodriguez throw from regular distance, but it will be a light session, according to Hyde.
“Kind of a mini side, a really, really light side,” Hyde said. “So, the side progression starts Sunday.”
Once the progression starts ramping up, expect Rodriguez to go through a small spring training before starting to face live batters and getting into games.
At the rate of progression, Rodriguez could be back in the rotation by the end of April or early May. Recent imaging did confirm there is no ligament damage, and there have been no setbacks reported as of this writing.
Opening Day is for the Birds
Opening Day is a day many wish was a national holiday. But for the Baltimore Orioles, it just might be their most favorite day of the season.
Since 1995, the Orioles are 22-9 on Opening Day, which is the best record in baseball during that time.
The O’s also set a franchise record with six home runs on Opening Day 2025, surpassing the previous high of four set in 1982 and 2006. It was also the first time the Birds have homered six times in a game since July 9, 2023.
Adley Rutschman joined in on the Opening Day fun by homering twice, singling and collecting three RBIs. Rutschman is now 10-for-14 with three home runs, nine RBIs and two walks on Opening Day.
“Definitely some nerves rolling around today, but I think just more of an appreciation for Opening Day and just kind of enjoying the nervousness, the excitement that surrounds it,” Rutschman said. “You only get so many of them, and I think that was kind of my goal going into this year, into this Opening Day, is really just to try and enjoy it as much as I can. And we got such a great group, and it would be a shame not to enjoy it with them.”
Cedric Mullins and the aforementioned Rutschman became the third and fourth Orioles players to hit two home runs on Opening Day, joining Sam Horn (April 9, 1990) and Orioles legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (April 6, 1973).
Depth is the name of the game
The Orioles have built a deep farm system, and though many have expected prospects to be traded, it’s the depth that is already showing importance as the season begins.
The O’s will begin the season with seven players (six pitchers) on the IL. Most of these players are key contributors, but due to the depth from signings, drafts and trades, the Birds have been able to weather the storm.
While no team wants to experience injuries, it’s a long season and a 162-game grind. Having the ability to provide adequate replacements from depth could be the difference for a team in the heat of a postseason race.
While many clammer for the Birds to make moves, the moves that have been made are calculated to provide assistance and time for others to return fully healthy.
Not so great day for the city of Baltimore
While many in Birdland would be happier with the Orioles playing home this weekend, many in the Charm City are just excited for baseball to be underway.
March 29 is a sad day for Baltimore, as it is the day that the Baltimore Colts franchise, under the cover of darkness, packed up moving trucks and headed to Indianapolis.
After contentious talks between the city and the team, Colts owner John Irsay snuck the team out of the city as it threatened eminent domain over the franchise.
Baltimore still tried to sue the franchise and Irsay but unfortunately failed in its pursuits.
As Memorial Stadium became synonymous with the Orioles, the move of the Baltimore Colts opened the door for new ownership for the Birds and a new state-of-the-art stadium, known as Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
It wasn’t until 1996 that the city was awarded the former Cleveland Browns, which became known as the Baltimore Ravens.
Though it is still cursed by many fans, it’s the day that led to the path of the Ravens joining the great city of Baltimore.
That wraps up this week’s edition of Battery Six-Pack. Be sure to restock the cooler and keep that beer cold, as the season is long and will be full of surprises.
We will return next week with another cold six-pack and dive into another week of Baltimore Orioles coverage.
What are your thoughts on the first two games of the season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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