After a difficult May stretch, the Baltimore Orioles are finally beginning to resemble the team many expected coming out of spring training.
The Detroit Tigers may have arrived at the perfect time, and the return of Jackson Holliday signaled another step toward full health for Baltimore’s roster. Maybe Detroit was exactly the opponent the Orioles needed to regain their rhythm because, for the first time in weeks, the energy appears to be back — both in the lineup and throughout Camden Yards.
And with late-game deliveries from The Milkman in two of the last three games, there are at least signs that the magic could be returning to Charm City. It may still be premature to call it a true turnaround, but after the way the last month unfolded, a little optimism is more than welcome.
But enough of the rambling. Let’s get to the real reason we’re here: answering your questions in the latest edition of Battery Mailbag.
How long have the Orioles played in Maryland? – Frances Foster via Facebook
The Baltimore Orioles have a much deeper history in Maryland than many fans realize.
Baltimore was home to an Orioles club from 1882-1899 that competed in both the American Association and the National League. That team became one of baseball’s early powerhouses, winning back-to-back Temple Cups in 1896 and 1897. Six members of those clubs — including manager Ned Hanlon — were later inducted into the Hall of Fame.
That original franchise folded after the 1899 season. A reorganized Orioles team became a charter member of the American League in 1901 before relocating after two seasons to New York, where it became the New York Highlanders and eventually the New York Yankees.
The current Orioles franchise arrived in Baltimore in 1954 after relocating from St. Louis, where the club had previously played as the Browns.
So while professional Major League Baseball history in Baltimore stretches across 89 years, MLB officially recognizes the current Orioles franchise history as beginning in 1954 — giving the modern franchise 72 years in Maryland.
Should the Orioles DFA Tyler O’Neill? If so, who should they replace him with moving forward? – @PikaJewSC via X
The reality is the Orioles are financially committed to O’Neill, and unless another club is willing to absorb part of the contract in a trade, Baltimore is likely stuck with the deal for the foreseeable future.
When the Orioles signed O’Neill, the expectation was that they were getting the version of the player who revitalized his value in Boston — a power bat capable of opting out after year one and cashing in elsewhere. Instead, injuries have once again defined much of his season, and the production simply has not matched the investment.
Still, outright designating him for assignment would not provide much benefit financially. Baltimore would remain responsible for the majority of the roughly $16 million annual salary, making a DFA difficult to justify unless the roster spot becomes absolutely necessary.
The more realistic path forward is reducing his workload and using him more selectively, especially in situations where his defense and power potential still offer some value. That approach could also help preserve his health over the course of the season.
When is Heston Kjerstad popping into the big-league club? – @WalterMaselli1 via X
The question around Heston Kjerstad isn’t really about when he arrives anymore — it is about how he fits, if at all, into the current roster picture for the Orioles.
Right now, the reality is that the opportunity is extremely limited at the major-league level. Baltimore’s outfield mix is crowded, and there is not an obvious everyday lane for him, barring injury or a significant roster shakeup.
From a performance standpoint, Kjerstad’s start in Norfolk has not pushed the decision in his favor either. He has logged just one home run, two extra-base hits, and has struck out 14 times compared to only two walks over his first 12 games, producing an OPS around .594. That is not forcing the organization’s hand in the way a clear breakout would.
That said, it is also a bit early to frame this as a definitive end to his Orioles tenure. Organizations rarely move on from a player with his pedigree and draft status without a longer runway, and depth in the system often buys players more time than a short cold stretch suggests.
Can the Orioles’ batters use a device that allows them to simulate a pitcher throwing them a pitch? Maybe they can see how high pitches look. Seems like we are lost when we face a pitcher not seen before. – Ken Crouse via Facebook
Major League Baseball organizations do use virtual reality as part of batting practice and plate discipline training.
More than 200 MLB players, across multiple clubs, incorporate VR hitting platforms such as WIN Reality and Applied Vision-style systems to study opposing pitchers, improve pitch recognition and prepare for different pitch shapes and velocities. These tools also help reduce the physical wear that comes with constant live batting practice.
While VR has become a valuable development tool, it is still a supplement rather than a replacement for real at-bats. It helps hitters prepare and recognize pitches more efficiently, but it cannot fully replicate game-speed velocity, movement or the pressure of facing a new pitcher in a live setting.
Should Mike Elias be the functioning GM for 2027 Opening Day? – Steve Booth via Facebook
The short answer is no — Mike Elias should not be the Opening Day general manager for 2027.
The longer answer is more nuanced. As President of Baseball Operations for the Orioles, Elias may ultimately need to delegate day-to-day roster and transactional control to an “action general manager” — a structure that is increasingly common across modern front offices. That type of internal shift feels more likely to materialize over the next offseason than a full organizational reset.
In fact, there is a growing belief that someone within the organization is already being positioned for that type of role — gaining experience and exposure to the workflow of a general manager behind the scenes. If that is the case, an announcement could realistically come either near the end of the season or early in the offseason, depending on how the club chooses to structure its baseball operations hierarchy moving forward.
The Orioles have built a strong foundation under Elias, but as expectations rise, so too does the need for sharper internal specialization and potentially a more traditional GM presence handling the daily grind of roster construction and in-season decision-making.
When is Mike Elias getting fired? – Erich Hawbaker via Facebook
I honestly do not believe Elias should be fired. Now, before half of Birdland tries to throw me from the nest, let me explain why.
Elias built one of the strongest farm systems in baseball in a short amount of time, and it translated to the big-league level sooner than expected. The issue was never the existence of talent — it was that the roster was still incomplete, particularly on the pitching side. That gap led to early success being met with expectations that outpaced where the roster construction actually was, especially once injuries piled up.
The Orioles also swung and missed on several major free agent pursuits. Whether it was Corbin Burnes, Kyle Schwarber or reported interest in players like Ranger Suarez, Baltimore made competitive offers but often lost out. Meanwhile, Elias has tried to address the roster in other ways this season, taking a chance on players like Shane Baz and Ryan Helsley, and hoping for more stability from arms like Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish.
Ultimately, in my opinion, Elias should not be fired for a roster that was still evolving while trying to compete, especially given how many injuries have impacted the entire organization. However, that does not necessarily mean he should remain in a day-to-day GM role. A structure where he continues as President of Baseball Operations while delegating roster execution to a more hands-on GM may be the more effective path forward.
Good or bad, what has surprised you about this year’s season so far? – @MrEd315 via X
The one thing that surprised me most this year was something I started noticing return during the last series against Detroit and the first game of the homestand against Tampa Bay.
For much of the season, the Orioles did not look like a team having fun. They looked tight — going through the motions rather than playing with the same energy and edge that defined them in previous years.
At some point, that seemed to shift. The group loosened up, the dugout felt more engaged and the on-field play reflected a team that was once again enjoying the game rather than simply enduring it.
That change has coincided with stronger performances at the plate, particularly from Colton Cowser. His recent stretch, including two walk-off home runs in the last three games, has been emblematic of a lineup that is starting to play with more confidence and less hesitation in big moments.
If that loosened, more free-flowing version of the Orioles continues, it could represent more than just a short-term surge. It might be the beginning of the turnaround this season has been waiting for.
That wraps up this edition of Battery Mailbag, and what a great one it has been. It is always a pleasure seeing what Birdland has on its mind and having the chance to dig into your questions and share a few thoughts along the way.
That said, it does not make us professors of the game, but I would like to think we have picked up a thing or two over time.
Until next time, Birdland: Keep the beer cold, and get ready for the next edition of Birdland Mailbag.
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