As the Baltimore Orioles inch closer to Opening Day, a fresh setback in spring training is reshaping the club’s bullpen outlook.
Veteran right-hander Andrew Kittredge, a key late-inning piece expected to stabilize the back-end of the Orioles’ relief corps, is now unlikely to be available for the season opener after being diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation.
Kittredge, who turned 36 this month, has pitched just once in Grapefruit League action. In that outing on Feb. 25, he struggled, yielding multiple runs and retiring only one batter before exiting, a performance concurrent with the shoulder issue that “crept up” on him, according to Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.
With Opening Day now just weeks away, club officials have taken a cautious approach to Kittredge’s recovery. Albernaz described his chances of being ready for the season’s first game as low, and Baltimore is prepared to start the veteran on the injured list rather than rush him back.
Kittredge was widely projected to serve as a bridge to new closer Ryan Helsley. His absence creates an immediate void in a bullpen that, even with Helsley, was counting on Kittredge’s experience in high-leverage spots.
Tyler Wells, long a starter by trade, has been confirmed as a bullpen fixture to begin the season and could be asked to absorb high-leverage work this season. Wells has relief experience and has performed well in short stints this spring, providing flexibility for the O’s pitching staff.
The ripple effects extend beyond Wells. Without Kittredge’s presence, other relievers — including Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano and Rico Garcia — are poised to see expanded roles in both middle and late innings.
Kittredge’s absence could also create an opportunity at the margins of Baltimore’s bullpen competition. With one spot potentially opening on the Opening Day roster, pitchers who entered camp on the bubble now have a clearer path to the majors.
Arms such as Grant Wolfram, Yaramil Hiraldo, Jackson Kowar, Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young could benefit if they finish spring strong.
This is not the first time Kittredge has faced spring adversity with Baltimore. He missed the start of the 2025 season while recovering from left knee surgery, ultimately not returning to the mound until May, and served as a key contributor before being traded away and ultimately reacquired by the Orioles this offseason.
In an era where bullpen depth can determine late-season success, the Orioles are now testing its depth earlier than anticipated. A bullpen that already had a plethora of uncertainty has to jump through yet another hurdle.
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