Orioles preseason capsule: Rotation questions need answers

Baltimore Orioles

2024 record: 91-71 (2nd place, AL East).

He gone: RHP Corbin Burnes, OF Anthony Santander, LHP Danny Coulombe, OF Eloy Jimenez, OF Austin Slater.

New faces: OF Tyler O'Neill, OF Dylan Carlson, OF Ramon Laureano, C Gary Sanchez, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP Andrew Kittredge.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: After losing Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency, who will be the No. 1 starting pitcher? The Orioles likely would be looking at 13-game winner Grayson Rodriguez, but he recently was shut down this spring to get a cortisone shot in his elbow and will open the season on the injured list. Two-time All-Star Morton is 41, and the veteran addition who could help soften that potential blow -- plus Nippon Professional Baseball newcomer Sugano -- got off to a solid spring start. Zach Eflin proved himself as a summer acquisition from division rival Tampa Bay.

Top prospect: Slotting back-to-back in the MLB.com rankings at Nos. 13-14 with high-rated power, C/1B Samuel Basallo and corner INF Coby Mayo are on the cusp after starring in Triple-A last season. Mayo had an organization-best .964 OPS with 25 home runs.

Breakout player: Look for former No. 1 overall pick Jackson Holliday to make a jump after struggling to the tune of a .189 batting average and 33 percent strikeout rate in his 60-game MLB debut in 2024. He could play shortstop if Gunnar Henderson hasn't recovered from a mild right intercostal strain to start the season.

2025 outlook: While injury issues could impact the lineup at season's start, Baltimore will look to maintain its status as an exciting young team with the likes of Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Holliday set to return. The strong roster added the aforementioned pitchers and O'Neill, who hit 31 homers for the rival Boston Red Sox last season, but more could have been done to cover for the losses following a disappointing end to 2024 with a wild-card sweep by the Kansas City Royals.

--Field Level Media