With the full squad now in camp and the Orioles set to open Grapefruit League action later this week, the 26-man roster continues to take shape.
Second baseman Jackson Holliday will open the 2026 season on the injured list after suffering a broken hamate bone in his hand earlier this month, an unfortunate development that opens an infield spot for the time being. However, Baltimore began the spring in pretty good shape on the pitching front with the exceptions of right-handed relievers Felix Bautista (shoulder surgery) and Colin Selby (shoulder inflammation), who will begin the season on the 60-day IL.
Of course, new injuries would change the conversation, and we’re still more than a month away from the 2026 opener.
Below is a current look at the Orioles’ projected 26-man roster for Opening Day:
STARTING PITCHERS (6): Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer, Zach Eflin
Skinny: The idea of a six-man rotation is a placeholder for the time being, but any practical chance of opening the season with six starters largely depends on the status of Eflin, who is apparently “full go” after undergoing back surgery last August. The obstacles to using a six-man rotation for the long haul include concerns about starters getting enough work to stay sharp and seven arms in the bullpen being sufficient, especially without an abundance of relievers carrying minor-league options. That said, manager Craig Albernaz even being able to consider such a setup is a good problem to have and speaks to improved depth and quality that just wasn’t there in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see how many innings Bradish can handle in his first full season since 2023, but he, Rogers, and Baz give this rotation a kind of ceiling that was nowhere to be found after Grayson Rodriguez was shut down last spring. While president of baseball operations Mike Elias didn’t land a top-of-the-rotation arm, the starting pitching has potential and a higher floor, especially after the addition of the 37-year-old Bassitt.
BULLPEN (7): Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, Tyler Wells, Yennier Cano, Dietrich Enns, Rico Garcia
Skinny: While the Orioles invested a two-year, $28 million deal in Helsley and reacquired Kittredge in the offseason, this group still looks way too thin in the high-leverage department. Cano rebounding from a difficult 2025 to get back to where he was a few years ago and Wells staying healthy would go a long way toward easing those concerns, but it’s difficult envisioning this club being a top contender without adding another high-impact reliever or two at some point in the coming weeks or months. Enns and Garcia took advantage of their post-deadline opportunities last season, but they’re far from roster locks. If nothing else, there’s plenty of room for a dark horse or two to emerge this spring.
CATCHERS (2): Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo
Skinny: After a brutal finish to 2024 and an injury-plagued 2025, Rutschman is at a crossroads. He remains the obvious starter and has a clear defensive edge over Basallo, but it’ll be fascinating to see how the Orioles distribute the playing time if the rookie realizes his immense potential with the bat sooner than later and Rutschman continues to flounder offensively. Rutschman would benefit from more days off in his age-28 season while Basallo currently projects to be the top designated hitter against right-handed starters. The upside for this catching duo is obvious, but the floor is also lower than anyone would have anticipated a couple years ago.
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INFIELDERS (6): Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Blaze Alexander, Ryan Mountcastle, Coby Mayo
Skinny: With Holliday sidelined through the start of the season and Westburg currently recovering from an oblique issue, the previously clear infield waters have been muddied. Those factors could make it more feasible for Baltimore to carry both Mountcastle and Mayo on the Opening Day roster, but that’s an awkward roster fit with Alonso playing first base every day. Mayo is once again taking extensive reps at third base, but it remains to be seen whether that’s viable enough defensively to prompt Albernaz to move Westburg to second base to begin the season. The simplest solution for replacing Holliday would be to insert Alexander at second after Elias gave up a solid package of prospects to acquire the 26-year-old utility infielder the day before Holliday’s injury. The Orioles could also choose to go with the more versatile Jeremiah Jackson over Mayo or Mountcastle on the bench.
OUTFIELDERS (5): Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers, Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras
Skinny: While Ward was acquired to anchor left field and provide a big bat, the stability of the outfield boils down to Cowser’s ability to play center field on a full-time basis. That’s a lot to ask of someone coming off an injury-plagued season in which he batted .196 with a .655 OPS in 92 games. The alternatives for center aren’t encouraging with Taveras — a good defensive player — finishing below replacement level with Seattle last year, Beavers being better suited for the corner spots, and prospect Enrique Bradfield having just 15 Triple-A games under his belt. If Cowser proves to be capable in center, this has the makings of a good outfield with a projected platoon of Beavers and O’Neill in right. There’s no sugarcoating how frustrating last year was for O’Neill, but a more specialized role against lefty starters could help him stay healthy and showcase the power the Orioles were eager to add last winter.
INJURED LIST: 2B Jackson Holliday, RHP Felix Bautista, RHP Colin Selby
Skinny: While Holliday should be ready to return at some point in April, Bautista having major shoulder surgery less than two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow should prompt more questions about whether he’ll ever be the same again rather than any serious expectations of him contributing late in 2026. Selby was placed on the 60-day IL to open a roster spot last week.
