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Unlikely Veteran Leading Baltimore Orioles Offense

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Troy Brock | Last updated May 18, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Nothing has gone right for the Baltimore Orioles in 2025. They are off to an abhorrent start, mostly caused by the lack of success from the mound, and the offense has also failed to contribute as expected. It has even led to the firing of (now former) manager Brandon Hyde.

With still three-quarters of a baseball season left to play, the Orioles enter Saturday with a 15-28 record, last in the American League East, and have dropped eight of their last 10 games.

Key members of the offense have begun to turn things around, but to this point in the year, the unit has been led by an unlikely veteran.

Ryan O'Hearn rockets a 3-run shot to right field pic.twitter.com/QPDwkNbyBk
— MLB (@MLB) April 28, 2025

Baltimore acquired Ryan O'Hearn from the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations ahead of the 2023 season. While he has been a completely different player for the O's than he ever was with the Royals, this year, he has taken it to a completely different level.

The first baseman enters Saturday with a .304/.394/.522 line with seven home runs, 14 RBI, and a 164 OPS+ across 132 plate appearances in 34 games. The 31-year-old has hit his stride over the first quarter of the season and is on pace to produce his best year in MLB to date.

"Although poor pitching has been the biggest culprit behind Baltimore’s disappointing 15-27 record, the O’s offense is arguably the greater disappointment," writes Thomas Harrigan in a recent article for MLB.com, "relative to preseason expectations. While Gunnar Henderson (123 wRC+) has started to recover after a slow start, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Tyler O'Neill and Ryan Mountcastle are all still trying to get on track. The 31-year-old O’Hearn has done his part to pick up the slack in a platoon role, hitting .295 with seven homers, an .896 OPS and a 159 wRC+ over 127 PAs."

Ryan O'Hearn homers, Zach Eflin tosses a quality start in an @Orioles win. pic.twitter.com/X5cUgc9S5g
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2025

It is a contract year for the first baseman, and with how the season has gone to this point for the Orioles, a move ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline is likely in the cards.

Whatever happens, O'Hearn has proved that he is more than capable of filling the middle of a lineup with what he's done this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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