While the 2025 season has had more dips, twists and turns than the scariest roller coaster, there still has been some excitement and some gems found along the way.
Most of Birdland anticipated a strong postseason run this year, only to see the Orioles offense sputter, the starting pitching test their moxie and the bullpen make Earl Weaver want to smoke an extra pack of cigarettes.
Needless to say, it’s not been the season Birdland wanted, but it’s one we have had to endure, and though many are calling for GM Mike Elias’ job, the reality is that he has done a pretty good job of replenishing the young talent throughout the organization.
July saw the All-Star Break festivities and a chance for the Birds to rest and try and turn the season around, but losing four of six games after the break put a pin in that dream.
Then, the trade season started, and the Orioles became one of the most active teams at the deadline as sellers, bringing in a nice return. Trading away four bullpen arms, a utility player, three regulars in the lineup and a starting pitcher, the Birds added six prospects to their top 30, retooled their minor league system as a whole and purged most of their expiring contracts.
In the end, the Orioles left themselves in a position that allows them to watch a few prospects in The Show at some point this season, add prospects that can be used in trade packages this offseason and keep the core together, the core that helped win 101 and 91 games in back-to-back seasons with postseason appearances.
The Birds finished July 13-12, their second consecutive winning month. Though they secured their second winning month of the season, they fell further back in the AL East (-13.5) and in the AL Wild Card standings.
The Orioles, as a whole, slashed .257/.315/.452/.767 with 216 hits, including 52 doubles, two triples and 36 home runs for the month. The offense drove in 122 runs while scoring 127 times, walking 60 times and stealing 19 bases.
The offense had a decent month, but the pitching struggled, as an ERA of 4.79 ERA highlighted where the struggles were and have been for most of the season.
With under 40 games left in the season, let’s see who stood out individually for the month of July for the Birds.
JORDAN WESTBURG
One of the heartbeats of the team, Jordan Westburg continues to show how valuable he is on both sides of the game.
Westburg would slash .341/.370/.557/.927 with five home runs and 12 RBIs for the month of July. He collected eight multi-hit games and four games with three or more hits during the month.
Westburg’s offense was so strong that he had nine games with three or more total bases, including three with five or more bases. For the season, Westburg has played in 60 games and is slashing .272/.319/.472/.791 with 12 home runs and 27 RBIs.
Providing a gritty, gutsy effort each time out, Westburg has established himself as a focal point of the young Birds and an integral part of the success of the team.
TREVOR ROGERS
A year ago, many in Birdland scratched their heads when Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby were sent to the Miami Marlins for lefty Trevor Rogers.
Rogers would arrive and, through four games, built an ERA over seven before Baltimore sent him down to the minors. Needless to say, it was not a good start to the lefty’s Charm City career. To make matters worse, he would dislocate his knee in January, which would delay his start to the season, leaving a bad taste in most Birdland’s mouths.
Now, it’s hard to imagine where the Orioles would be without Rogers, as he has turned into a bonafide front-line starter that is making the trade that Mike Elias pulled off look brilliant.
Through July, Rogers made four starts, each lasting at least six innings, while allowing no more than two earned runs. In two of the starts, Rogers did not allow a run.
Rogers went 3-1 in July, amassing a 1.04 ERA across 26.1 innings of work while striking out 22 and walking only seven. Opponents would bat just .135 against Rogers, as he posted a 0.72 WHIP.
Rogers is now 4-2 on the season and has allowed three runs in only one start this year (eight games). He has posted a 1.44 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through 56.1 innings of work.
GUNNAR HENDERSON
The warm months seem to be Gunnar Henderson‘s time to shine as he continues to stay hot.
The month of July saw Henderson slash .311/.370/.511/.881 while hitting two home runs and driving in 14 runs.
While the home run totals aren’t matching last year’s pace, nearly half of Henderson’s hits in July went for extra bases (10 doubles, one triple, two home runs), and his eight walks was his lowest total since April, though he cut his strikeouts down to less than one a game for the month.
Henderson, for the year, is hitting .285/.356/.467/.823 with 13 home runs 47 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. With six more stolen bases and seven more home runs, Henderson would have his second consecutive 20/20 season, as well as his third straight season with 20 or more homers.
With most of the veterans traded away, Henderson has a unique opportunity to step up and become a certified clubhouse and on-field leader for the Orioles as they close out the 2025 season.
CORBIN MARTIN
What a whirlwind of a season for the 29-year-old former second-round pick, Corbin Martin.
Martin turned July into a strong month for himself, doubling his career win total (now at two) and picking up his first career save, walking a tightrope against the first place Toronto Blue Jays.
For July, Martin appeared in seven games, totaling 7.1 innings of work and throwing 59% of his pitches for strikes (73 of 124). The only run Martin allowed this month came on one of the three hits he allowed, a solo home run.
Martin pitched to a 1.23 ERA and a respectable 0.95 WHIP while holding opponents to a .125 average in July. He did strike out 10 batters, but if he had one area for improvement, it would be the four walks and two hit batters.
Martin is expected to play a bigger role in the bullpen going forward with four relief arms traded during the deadline. So far, Martin has proven he has the moxie to back up the expectations.
There are about two months left in the season, and this Orioles team has now been reshaped as mine players were traded.
The opportunity for others to step up in larger roles or get a larger opportunity is now present. It will help determine where the Birds are headed going into 2026 and how to approach not only the remaining part of this season but the offseason as well.
Will Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschman and Colton Cowser become the leaders this team needs? Will Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo show why the hype surrounding them is real?
The final march of the 2025 season is here, and it is sure to be an electric and fun finish, with various young players getting their opportunity to prove their value.
What are your thoughts on the O’s month of July? 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!
Represent The Baltimore Battery and show off your fandom with our official merchandise! Reasonably-priced attire made just for you! Visit our official shop site by clicking here!
Like Stephen’s content? Follow him on X – @SRJHeckman, and listen to the official podcast of The Baltimore Battery, The Final Strike, anywhere you get your podcasts!
THE BALTIMORE BATTERY 
Leave a comment