TORONTO — The Orioles officially opened the 2025 season without All-Star shortstop and AL MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson, but Opening Day reminded his return is right around the corner.
Not long after Henderson was officially placed on the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal strain, manager Brandon Hyde announced the star infielder will begin a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. The Tides open their season against Durham with Henderson — who’s been sidelined from game action since straining a rib-cage muscle in a Feb. 27 Grapefruit League contest — needing to ramp up with live-game action before rejoining the Orioles “soon,” according to Hyde.
With Henderson’s IL stint backdated three days, he’s eligible to be activated as early as April 3, which is the scheduled series finale against Boston at Camden Yards next week. In the meantime, Jackson Holliday moved from second base to shortstop for the season opener against the Blue Jays. Holliday had been playing almost exclusively at shortstop — his natural position — in spring games since early March.
Despite doubts about his availability to open the season, infielder Jorge Mateo was part of the initial 26-man roster as he deemed himself ready to go from last summer’s left elbow surgery. His inclusion meant reserve infielder Livan Soto was reassigned to Norfolk after traveling with the club to Toronto earlier this week.
Right-hander Bryan Baker was the final piece of the eight-man bullpen to open the season after veteran Andrew Kittredge was officially placed on the 15-day IL after undergoing right knee surgery earlier this month. Baker beat out right-handers Matt Bowman and Roansy Contreras with the former being outrighted to Norfolk and the latter being designated for assignment on Thursday.
In addition to Henderson and Kittredge, the Orioles have five starting pitchers on the IL to begin the 2025 season: Grayson Rodriguez (right elbow inflammation), Trevor Rogers (right knee subluxation), Chayce McDermott (right lat strain), Kyle Bradish (right elbow UCL surgery, 60-day), and Tyler Wells (right elbow UCL surgery, 60-day).
Five players on Baltimore’s roster have made the first Opening Day roster: Holliday, outfielder Heston Kjerstad, starting pitchers Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich, and reliever Albert Suarez.
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Below is the Orioles’ Opening Day roster:
STARTING ROTATION
RHP Zach Eflin
RHP Charlie Morton
RHP Dean Kremer
RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
LHP Cade Povich
BULLPEN
RHP Felix Bautista
RHP Yennier Cano
LHP Cionel Perez
RHP Seranthony Dominguez
LHP Gregory Soto
LHP Keegan Akin
RHP Albert Suarez
RHP Bryan Baker
CATCHERS
Adley Rutschman
Gary Sanchez
INFIELDERS
Ryan Mountcastle
Jordan Westburg
Jackson Holliday
Ramon Urias
Ryan O’Hearn
Jorge Mateo
OUTFIELDERS
Colton Cowser
Cedric Mullins
Tyler O’Neill
Ramon Laureano
Heston Kjerstad
