Orioles Roster Suddenly Giving Them a Chance in AL East Race

On May 21, the Baltimore Orioles roster was sporadic at best and limp at worst, along with a sputtering starting rotation. The team was 21-29 and over 10 games out of first place in the American League East.

Since then, the Orioles have been playing over .500 ball and have been good enough to put them in third place and back in the Wild Card conversation. While the team is still in the hole with their record at 31-35, some silver linings in the roster suggest the team could finally be turning a corner. The players they’ve invested in for the 2026 season are finally starting to come around, and there might be some good prospects on the way soon.

Baltimore Orioles Roster Powered By Pete Alonso, Samuel Basallo, Among Others

When the Orioles signed first baseman Pete Alonso to a large five-year, $155 million contract, they were betting big on his power abilities and giving the lineup a jolt.

Alonso was known to have a slow start to his seasons, which was the case in his first season with the Orioles. Through March and April, Alonso went .198/.306/.668 with only four home runs and 33 strikeouts. Fans, who have been impatient with the team’s front office, were beginning to get worried about whether Alonso was the right signing for the team’s offense.

Pete Alonso Last 15 Games

.310 AVG
.517 SLG
4 HR
12 RBI

The Polar Bear is getting comfortable in Baltimore pic.twitter.com/CK53BUhJXU

— ?am Brice (@kambrice1tv) June 5, 2026

The 31-year-old turned it on throughout May and has had a hot start to June, slugging nine home runs in 34 games to an OPS near .900. Since May 22, he’s gone .305/.373/.882 with four home runs, albeit no other extra-base hits. He does make up for it in cutting down his strikeout rate below 20% and has more hits.

Alonso’s also adapting to the new ballpark as well, especially with the left-field wall being pushed back to cut down on home runs. He currently is tied with Gunnar Henderson for sole possession of leading the team in home runs with 13.

Catching prospect Samuel Basallo is also beginning to emerge as a serious power and gap bat between Alonso and Henderson. In May, Basallo hit .338/.376/.974 with four home runs, along with six doubles and even a triple. He has regressed a bit in June, only hitting .143 with no home runs so far. A small downside is that he’s comfortable hitting at home, but his metrics and performance dip when on the road, hitting only .229/.304/.678 away.

The rest of the team is also playing well, including Adley Rutschman getting back to his All-Star level of play with an .839 OPS. The return of Jackson Holliday has also been important, with him slowly reaching the .700 OPS mark. Outside of the successful players, the only lag on the lineup is outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who is hitting a weak .158/.267/.495 with two home runs.

Handful of Prospects Await Debut

Several Orioles prospects stuck in the farm system could make their way onto the big league roster later this year. That all depends on how close the team gets to a potential postseason push.

Outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. is hoping to make a surprise appearance with the Orioles at some point this year, despite suffering a hand injury that sidelined him for a bit. He’s currently in the middle of a rehab assignment, but has stolen 10 bases in just 23 games, along with five bags in five High-A games.

Enrique Bradfield Jr. goes deep for Triple-A Norfolk.

It’s the 8th homer of his professional career. pic.twitter.com/bAoVfcyuJy

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) April 11, 2026

Bradfield Jr.’s speed, which grades out at 80 in his scouting report, is desperately needed on a team that lacks a definitive baserunning threat. Blaze Alexander and Leody Taveras have done a good job with seven bags apiece, but putting Bradfield Jr. on the team could be the equivalent of adding Chandler Simpson. It could also lead to more runs scored at the top of the lineup, and maybe the deciding runs in games.

A second player the team could look forward to could be Creed Willems, a dual catcher and first baseman who could slide into the designated hitter spot. He’s currently putting up the best numbers of his career at Triple-A and might eclipse 20 home runs by the end of the season. He’s also been included in trade rumors if the team decides to sell.

The Orioles roster could stand to have another power bat, though it makes sense to trade him for an MLB-ready player. If Willems made it to the roster and played at the same level, he could be their third .800 OPS player.

What Does This Mean for the AL East?

A revised Orioles roster could suddenly represent a three-way race for the top of the division, including the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. It’s entirely possible, given the close race at the top and with the Toronto Blue Jays floundering, the Orioles could surprise everyone. There is the matter of pitching, however.

The team’s starting rotation is lackluster, despite the return of Kyle Bradish and the acquisition of Shane Baz to the team in the offseason. The bullpen is okay, even with Ryan Helsley sidelined for a while, having been bolstered by the recent debut of prospect Trey Gibson. Still, there’s a lot to be desired. If the Orioles go all-in during the trade deadline, it will be in the form of trades for pitchers in their rotation. Keep a close eye on what they do with their trade chips and how they perform this month.

Main Photo Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images