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2023 regular-season review: Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

2023 regular-season review: Baltimore Orioles

By Michael Carpenter  |  Last updated 10/16/23

Winning their first American League East division title since 2014, the Baltimore Orioles exceeded the expectations of many in 2023. 

Finishing the season with the best record in the American League at 101-61, the roster was littered with young talent and players having breakout seasons. With a young core establishing itself in the majors, the Orioles look primed to continue this success for years to come.

Let's take a look back at some of the key players and moments for the Orioles in 2023.

Hitter of the Year: Gunnar Henderson

(.255/.325/.489, 66 XBH, 82 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 150 games played)

Opening the season as the favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year award, Henderson did not disappoint and became an instant fan favorite for the Orioles.

After getting a taste of the majors in 2022, he showed off one of the smoothest left-handed swings in MLB while slashing .255/.325/.489 while smacking 66 XBH. 

With a .272/.336/.549 slash line including 57 XBH and 71 RBI versus righties, he will look to improve his ability versus left-handers in 2024.

With other young talent on the way behind him, Henderson looks like one of the many building blocks the Orioles will have to build around as they look to become a force in the AL East. 

Pitcher of the Year: Kyle Bradish

(12-7, 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168 strikeouts in 168.2 innings pitched)

Acquired in an offseason trade in 2019, Bradish didn't make his debut until last season and it was a debut full of lessons for the 27-year-old. After posting a 4-7 record and a 4.90 ERA over 23 starts in 2022, Bradish made a major leap in 2023 for an Orioles team desperate for quality pitching. 

Looking like a top-of-the-rotation type of arm, Bradish was near the top of the American League in numerous pitching statistics.

Ending the year with a 2.83 ERA, a major part of his success was his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark. After allowing 17 home runs in 2022, the right-hander surrendered only 14 home runs this season.

Minor League Player of the Year: Jackson Holliday

(.323/.442/.499, 51 XBH, 75 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 125 games played)

On the cusp of making the jump to the majors in 2023, the top prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com's rankings had a meteoric rise through the Orioles minor league system.

The son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday, the 19-year-old shortstop began the season in Single-A and let his bat do the talking for him as he climbed all the way to Triple-A in his first full professional season. 

Slashing .323/.442/.499 with 51 XBH and 75 RBI in a league where most of the competition is four to five years older than him, he has a real chance to break spring training with the Orioles in 2024 as they look to repeat as AL East champs. 

With all of the potential in the world and the tools to back them up, Holliday has a great chance to be the face of the franchise for the Orioles for the next decade-plus.  

Play of the Year: Santander walk-off to beat the Yankees

With a season full of great moments for the franchise, Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander walking off the New York Yankees was one of the first signs that this team was for real and it wasn't just another hot start to be followed by disappointment. 

On a night when the home fans endured a rain delay of over two hours, Santander was able to send fans home happy. 

"I put a good swing on it, and I said, 'I got it.'" Santander said to Orioles beat writer Jake Rill.

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