Orioles Lose Another Pitcher Before Opening Day

Junior manager Craig Albernaz did not provide a timeline to reporters for Akin or outfielder Heston Kjerstad. The move is retroactive to March 22.

Akin’s Injury Another Blow To A Thin Orioles Bullpen

The 30-year-old reliever is coming off another effective season, tossing a 3.41 ERA over 63.1 innings with 59 strikeouts. He did suffer from a high home-run-to-walk ratio in 2025, surrendering 10 home runs and tossing two wild pitches. The setup man recorded five wins and eight saves, most of them coming after Felix Bautista’s season-ending injury in August.

Akin holds a three-pitch arsenal, including a slider and changeup that saw over 20% usage on each. While his four-seamer was ineffective and held a .323 batting average, his changeup accounted for a third of all strikeouts and only held a .103 batting average.

The left-handed reliever saw a 12% walk rate alongside a low 38% groundball ratio in 2025. He also got battered around, with 42% of balls in play being listed as hard-hit. Akin was seeking to recapture his 2024 magic when he struck out 97 in 78.2 innings.

Per Fangraphs, four pitchers on the team are now on the injured list, including long reliever Andrew Kittredge. The Orioles also lost Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg for their offensive lineup.

Spring Training Contenders Get Unexpected Promotions

Because of the injury to Akin, the team turned to Anthony Nunez for his first opening day roster. The 24-year-old rookie joins Grant Wolfram and Yaramil Hiraldo on the roster for their Thursday night game.

Nunez found himself with the Orioles in a trade with the New York Mets last season that saw Cedric Mullins shipped away. The right-handed reliever performed well at Triple-A, tossing a 3.45 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 15.2 innings. He did struggle with command, hitting two batters after throwing five wild pitches for the Mets in Double-A.

Wolfram appeared for the team in 2025, earning a 5.40 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. He had a successful spring, striking out 10 and walking only one in six innings of work. Hiraldo also had a successful spring and holds a 38% chase rate from 2025.