{"id":63072,"date":"2025-05-29T06:26:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T06:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/63072\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T06:26:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T06:26:08","slug":"four-offensive-positions-the-orioles-must-address-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/63072\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Offensive Positions The Orioles Must Address This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Baltimore Orioles have serious issues around the entire clubhouse, especially when it comes to on-field play. As discussed previously, the team\u2019s pitching<\/a> has not only been subpar, it ranks in the bottom fourth in nearly every statistical category. Charlie Morton<\/a> has been a bust this season, the bullpen has been spotty, and 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano<\/a> is arguably their ace. This isn\u2019t even taking into account the Orioles\u2019 issues with offense. Despite all of the investment into their young prospects, there is a widespread lack of offensive production from multiple positions. There\u2019s even a good chance the Orioles will fail to break .500 this season if things don\u2019t improve.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re ranking the four biggest problems with the Orioles lineup and how hard the regression is. While there are still some big-time contributors, including Ryan O\u2019Hearn<\/a> and Gunnar Henderson<\/a>, there\u2019s a lot to be concerned about.<\/p>\n

Four Positions of Concern for Orioles Offense
\n1. Heston Kjerstad \u2013 Outfielder<\/p>\n

2025 stats: 147 AB; .190\/.238\/.545; 41 K; 5 BB; 58 OPS+; 2 doubles; 4 HR; 16 RBI<\/p>\n

There is no sugarcoating the fact that Heston Kjerstad<\/a> has been awful so far this year for the Orioles. It\u2019s even more disappointing when you consider the 26-year-old ranked number 32<\/a> in MLB Pipeline\u2019s top 100 prospect list in 2024.<\/p>\n

Kjerstad slugged a .303\/.401\/.584 slash line across three levels last year, with the bulk of the at-bats at the Triple-A level. He showcased a balance between gap and raw power, slugging 14 doubles, one triple, and 16 home runs at the level. In addition, his hit-to-strikeout rate was almost at the 1:1 mark.<\/p>\n

In 2025, the former first-round prospect has seen his statistical line drop to an unplayable level. He isn\u2019t showcasing the same split in power or even the same contact abilities that made him a top prospect for the organization. Across all starters<\/a> on the team, Kjerstad has the worst WAR number out of the group.<\/p>\n

Per Baseball Savant<\/a>, while his contact numbers are all down, he\u2019s not whiffing as bad as he was last year. What his numbers show is a three-mile-per-hour decrease in his bat speed plus someone who is on top of the ball rather than making solid contact. There\u2019s also a three-mile-per-hour decrease in his exit velocity. There might be a mechanics issue here.<\/p>\n

A mechanical issue can be fixed with perhaps another stint in the minors. However, if it\u2019s caused by an injury, it could permanently shift his ability to play. Watch how he plays this summer.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a really good chance veteran Ram\u00f3n Laureano<\/a> takes his playing time. He\u2019s hitting far better and isn\u2019t striking out at a high clip. Kjerstad\u2019s time with the Orioles might be running short if he can\u2019t figure it out on offense.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Tyler O\u2019Neill \u2013 Outfielder<\/p>\n

2025 stats: 80 AB; .188\/.280\/.605; 27 K; 9 BB; 77 OPS+; 3 doubles; 2 HR; 10 RBI<\/p>\n

The veteran outfielder came on as Baltimore\u2019s premier moves during the offseason meant to propel them past the playoff hump. Instead, the Orioles currently see no return on investment into the three-year deal for the veteran outfielder.<\/p>\n

Tyler O\u2019Neill<\/a> has only played 24 games this year due to two stints<\/a> on the IL for neck and shoulder issues. In those games, O\u2019Neill sports the second-worst slash line among all players on the team with more than 20 games played. The 29-year-old holds a strikeout-to-hit ratio of 2:1 while holding the fourth-lowest OBP on the team.<\/p>\n

Tyler O\u2019Neill is doing baseball activities. Rehab assignment soon. #orioles<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) May 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

During his stint in Boston last year, O\u2019Neill hit a respectable .247\/.336\/.847. Powered by his increase in home runs and doubles, it seemed to offset his high strikeout rate. Without the ability to turn at-bats into productive run-scoring opportunities, he\u2019s not living up to the hype.<\/p>\n

Unlike Kjerstad, the veteran outfielder hasn\u2019t really seen a major decrease in bat speed<\/a>. In fact, some of his batting values from barrel percentage to walk rate remain in the top half of the league. He has, however, run into another issue. His flyball rate has jumped to 41%. What\u2019s worse is that his weak contact rate is near 10%, far higher than his 5.1% last year.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill appears to be having trouble squaring up on the ball, as evidenced by his higher tilt and attack angle. He might need to flatten his swing path to help the Orioles\u2019 offense put up runs.<\/p>\n

3. Ryan Mountcastle \u2013 First Baseman<\/p>\n

2025 stats: 179 AB; .235\/.271\/.606; 45 K; 8 BB; 77 OPS+; 12 doubles; 2 HR; 15 RBI<\/p>\n

Much like Kjerstad, Ryan Mountcastle<\/a> was a top 100-ranked prospect in baseball in 2021 for the Orioles. In his last full season at Triple-A Norfolk, he had a .312\/.344\/.871 slash line. The first baseman is generally a very consistent producer, but this year has been anything but consistent.<\/p>\n

The sixth-year pro is performing at the worst level of his career. The good news is that he\u2019s not striking out more or walking terribly less, but the bad news is that his power has disappeared. This isn\u2019t a one-year thing, however, it\u2019s a gradual decline over his career. After hitting 33 home runs in 2021, he\u2019s failed to hit 20 in 2023 and 2024 while only hitting two this year in 50 games.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an easy explanation for Mountcastle\u2019s declining power: He\u2019s turning into a ground-ball hitter. Per Baseball Savant<\/a>, coinciding with the first baseman\u2019s declining home run tally, his ground ball rate has jumped to 44% over the last three years. In addition, nearly 30% of the balls in play are line drives, the highest of his career.<\/p>\n

Again, it\u2019s not a mechanical issue, it\u2019s a change in his hitting philosophy. His quality of contact shows he\u2019s on top of the ball more and his barrel rate is declining with age. With first base usually billed as a position for a power hitter, Mountcastle isn\u2019t cutting it anymore for the Orioles\u2019 offense. He can hit, but his decline in home runs complicates his path to staying on the team.<\/p>\n

4. Adley Rutschman \u2013 Catcher<\/p>\n

2025 stats: 175 AB; .211\/.310\/.659; 32 K; 24 BB; 93 OPS+; 7 doubles; 1 triple; 5 HR; 15 RBI<\/p>\n

Adley Rutschman<\/a> is a solid catcher with the ability to be one of the top players at his position. There is a reason why he\u2019s been to two All-Star teams, earned runner-up honors for AL Rookie of the Year in 2022, and was an MVP candidate at one point.<\/p>\n

He seems to be suffering from the same issues that most of the team is being plagued with, a lack of slugging. He has seen a decline in his slugging average, but it\u2019s really gone down between 2024 and 2025. Yes, he\u2019s still drawing walks and getting on base, creating run opportunities, but he\u2019s not scoring runs.<\/p>\n

Across all major statistical categories, Rutschman has not seen any significant changes<\/a> to his game. His bat speed remains consistent and his exit velocity is actually stronger than ever. There have been some major issues hitting offspeed and breaking balls. In fact, his barrel percentage is the highest in his career.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very likely that Rutschman is just running into a string of bad luck and unfortunate outs. On an Orioles team that seems to be on the verge of panic, rest assured the All-Star catcher is not one of those players to worry about. If it doesn\u2019t get any better, or his performance declines, then it might be time to grow concerned.<\/p>\n

What Do The Orioles Do?<\/p>\n

At this moment in time, it seems the bulk of issues on offense for the Orioles come from the outfield. The team\u2019s core out there is playing exceptionally poorly. In fact, it\u2019s one of the worst<\/a> outfields by WAR. When your best player is Laureano, there\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s very likely the team will make a trade for an outfielder at the deadline if things don\u2019t improve. There are rumblings that the Chicago White Sox will trade<\/a> All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr.<\/a> before July 31. That\u2019s an option for a team desperate for power and versatility.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, they can go with an internal solution. Dylan Beavers<\/a>, the organization\u2019s number six prospect<\/a>, is hitting well at Triple-A, while Enrique Bradfield Jr.<\/a> seeks to continue his solid 2024 campaign.<\/p>\n

As for their first-baseman and catcher, if things do not improve at either spot, there is a chance No. 16 overall prospect Samuel Basallo<\/a> will get the call to the majors. The 20-year-old is slugging a .245\/.350\/.909 across 30 games with nine home runs. If he keeps this torrid pace up, Mountcastle might find himself out of Baltimore soon. As for Rutschman, he\u2019s earned some flexibility.<\/p>\n

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