With the offseason lockout shortening spring training and pushing back Opening Day by a week, the Orioles and the 29 other major league clubs begin the 2022 season with an expanded 28-man roster before returning to the normal 26 by May 2.
There are 13 holdovers from last year’s Opening Day roster while eight players will be making their club debut. The following eight individuals made their first season-opening roster: Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Mike Baumann, Felix Bautista, Anthony Bemboom, Kelvin Gutierrez, Joey Krehbiel, and Ryan McKenna. The 26-year-old Bautista’s first appearance will be his major league debut.
As has been the case for several years now, you’d expect no shortage of roster movement and changes for a rebuilding club over a 162-game marathon playing in the cutthroat American League East.
Below is a breakdown of Baltimore’s initial 28-man roster to open the 2022 season:
STARTING/BULK PITCHERS (7) — John Means, Jordan Lyles, Tyler Wells, Bruce Zimmerman, Dean Kremer, Mike Baumann, Keegan Akin
Analysis: The fallout from the lockout will only further blur the line between starter and reliever as the Orioles have confirmed plans to use some pitching tandems to begin the season. That figures to not only protect hurlers still building up their pitch counts after an abbreviated spring, but it could protect young pitchers from going through a lineup a third time. Of course, some of the aforementioned names had their issues facing a lineup even once or twice last season, meaning manager Brandon Hyde really needs Means and free-agent newcomer Lyles to log extensive innings simply to navigate the season. I took a longer look at the mid-20s pitchers still in this mix HERE.
RELIEF PITCHERS (7) — Jorge Lopez, Dillon Tate, Paul Fry, Cionel Perez, Joey Krehbiel, Bryan Baker, Felix Bautista
Analysis: The recent trade of Cole Sulser and Tanner Scott changed the complexion of this bullpen, but it should leave more high-leverage situations for Lopez and Tate, who have the stuff on paper to handle it. Fry will hope to rebound from a disastrous August that resulted in his demotion to Triple-A Norfolk to finish last season, but the 25-year-old Perez was part of Houston’s system when Mike Elias was there and gives Hyde another lefty option. While the Orioles hope Baker can be a solid waiver claim like Sulser, the hard-throwing Bautista is the group’s most intriguing story, climbing from Single-A Aberdeen to the majors over the last calendar year.
CATCHERS (2) — Robinson Chirinos, Anthony Bemboom
Analysis: Bemboom is simply keeping Adley Rutschman’s locker warm until the star catching prospect is fully healthy from the strained triceps that took the wind out of fans’ sails for Opening Day. Baltimore signed the 37-year-old Chirinos to serve as Rutschman’s backup and mentor in a way similar to what Gregg Zaun did for Matt Wieters back in 2009.
INFIELDERS (7) — Trey Mancini, Ryan Mountcastle, Ramon Urias, Rougned Odor, Jorge Mateo, Kelvin Gutierrez, Chris Owings
Analysis: Mancini and Mountcastle will anchor designated hitter and first base as long as the former remains an Oriole, but the rest of the infield is a question mark. No matter which spot he’s playing, Urias should begin the season as an everyday player after posting a .774 on-base plus slugging percentage in 296 plate appearances last season. What happens with the other two spots is anyone’s guess with the 28-year-old Odor sporting the longest track record despite a substantial decline over the last few seasons. Mateo, 26, flashed ability at shortstop late last season and the 27-year-old Gutierrez will see starts at third base, but the most interesting infielders in the organization are at Double-A Bowie and below and likely another year or so away.
OUTFIELDERS (5) — Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, DJ Stewart, Ryan McKenna
Analysis: As long as Hays and Santander avoid the injuries that have dogged their careers at various points, the starting outfield is the area with the least uncertainty with Mullins, the 2021 Most Valuable Oriole, leading the way in center field. Neither Stewart nor McKenna should feel too comfortable with the likes of Yusniel Diaz and Kyle Stowers playing at Triple-A Norfolk, but McKenna’s defensive ability takes on added value with a much more expansive left field at Camden Yards now.
