BALTIMORE — It’s been a more complicated September for the Orioles than a 14-8 record might indicate.
The positives are evident as Baltimore needs just one win in the Bronx this weekend to finish this disappointing 2025 season with its best month by winning percentage. Five walk-off victories in September reflect the fight the Orioles have still managed to show despite being out of playoff contention for months now. Leading a group of arms that entered Thursday ranked third in the majors in starter ERA this month, Trevor Rogers — voted the club’s MVP by the local media — and the returning Kyle Bradish have formed a 1-2 punch you could almost envision taking into a playoff series in an alternate timeline. Even a barely recognizable bullpen in need of a massive overhaul from general manager president of baseball operations Mike Elias this winter has had its decent moments relative to the lowest of expectations following the trade deadline.
But the Orioles also entered Thursday ranking last in the majors in runs scored per game in September and last in the majors in runs scored since the July 31 trade deadline. In other words, too much of the talented young position core™ has remained as underwhelming down the stretch as it’s been for most of the season, which is one of the big reasons why the Orioles are in last place and why difficult conversations and decisions loom. You really hoped to see more arrows pointing upward from that nucleus by season’s end to have more optimism going into a critical offseason for this franchise.
“That’s what has to get fixed,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Yes, we’ve got to add pitching, but we’ve got to get these guys right and get them moving in the right direction. There’s no doubt about that, and the players know that, the whole staff knows that, Mike knows that.”
Of course, there have been recent exceptions, which made the circumstances of Thursday afternoon’s 6-5 comeback win over Tampa Bay so fitting. After Coby Mayo hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Dylan Beavers hit a first-pitch leadoff homer in the last of the ninth to give the 16,777 gathered at Oriole Park at Camden Yards one last thrill in the home finale.
While acknowledging Beavers’ first real difficulties at the plate coming over these last couple weeks, Mansolino noted after Thursday’s win that “you still feel like he’s going to do something every at-bat,” which is the reason he’s moved to the leadoff spot with Jackson Holliday nursing a sore knee the last couple days. A robust 18.9% walk rate and an .820 on-base plus slugging percentage in 32 games have made Beavers arguably the club’s best position player since his Aug. 16 debut as well as a breath of fresh air for an organization that’s seen most of its young hitters really struggle upon making their debuts over the last few years.
Beavers’ biggest takeaway from his first six weeks in the big leagues is the reality over which the Orioles’ position core has wilted despite great expectations entering 2025. And it’s all the more reason Elias must add a high-impact veteran bat or two to that mix this winter.
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“It’s hard up here. You know you’re never going to have an at-bat that’s comfortable, especially when it’s not going good,” Beavers said. “That’s when it really gets challenging. It’s just remaining confident and trusting my process and preparation. I think that will ultimately lead to success here.”
Mayo is one of those young hitters who’s struggled much more than he’s thrived over his first 330 major league plate appearances since debuting last summer, but he’s also been the Orioles’ best hitter in September with four homers and a slash line of .308/.392/.538 in 74 plate appearances. Whether that’s enough evidence for the Orioles to commit to him as an everyday player next April is highly debatable, but it’s encouraging to see Mayo show growth while many in the lineup have limped to the finish line.
And it sure beats the .136/.208/.261 slash line he had in August after the Orioles traded 2025 All-Star selection Ryan O’Hearn to clear the runway for the 23-year-old Mayo to play every day.
“You continue to work hard and never give up,” Mayo said. “A few weeks ago, I was in a tough spot and didn’t like where I was at. I’ve just continued to work, and I think this month has been really good for me. If I can take this month and build off it into the offseason and into next spring training, I think I’m going to be in a pretty good spot.”
Much work remains for this young core to live up to expectations after such a disappointing campaign, but the home finale served as an example of hope for better days ahead.
