2023 marks PressBox’s seventh annual Best Of edition celebrating the top people, performances and moments of the year.
When oddsmakers pinned the Orioles’ win total at 76.5 ahead of the 2023 season, the number seemed … low. Baltimore, coming off an 83-win season with a burgeoning collection of young talent, would surely hit the over. The Orioles did so in emphatic fashion. They went 101-61, the club’s best mark since 1979. They won the American League East for the first time since 2014. And it all came after losing 110 games just two years prior.
The accolades rolled in for the Orioles in November. Mike Elias won MLB Executive of the Year for piloting the organization through an extensive rebuild. Infielder Gunnar Henderson won AL Rookie of the Year, the first Oriole to win the award since Gregg Olson in 1989. Brandon Hyde won AL Manager of the Year, only the fourth time an Orioles skipper has won the award. Félix Bautista won AL Reliever of the Year, the first Oriole to do so since Zack Britton in 2014.
Individual success stories were plentiful beyond major awards, from Kyle Bradish’s breakout campaign to Grayson Rodriguez’s second-half rebound to Yennier Cano’s ascension to All-Star status. No one could have predicted Danny Coulombe, Aaron Hicks and Ryan O’Hearn would be major contributors. We can’t possibly forget about Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander, who worked so hard to see the other side of the rebuild. And we probably shouldn’t forget about the Bird Bath, either.
For the joy they brought to Baltimore for six months, the Orioles are PressBox’s Team of the Year. For more of the moments and performances that made 2023 such a special season in Baltimore, check out our full “Best Of 2023” section.
Best Oriole
There was talk that perhaps Gunnar Henderson needed more time in the minors after he batted just .170 in his first 33 games with the Orioles in 2023. However, Henderson was a quick study and hard worker, improving his batting average to .246 by the All-Star break. He only got better and was stellar defensively, spending time at both shortstop and third base. By the end of the season, Henderson led all AL rookies in home runs (28), triples (9), RBIs (82) and runs scored (100). He also hit .255/.325/.489 and set an Orioles rookie record with 66 extra-base hits en route to being named the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year.
Best Architect
The organization-wide rebuild led by Mike Elias has been well-documented, but the general manager made plenty of moves before and during the 2023 season to help the Orioles win 101 games. Elias signed Kyle Gibson to stabilize the rotation, and the right-hander did just that with 192 innings pitched. He acquired Danny Coulombe for cash just before the start of the season, and the lefty reliever posted a 2.81 ERA in 51.1 innings for the club. He hit on Aaron Hicks and Ryan O’Hearn as change-of-scenery veterans. He also called up prospects Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, DL Hall, Grayson Rodriguez and Jordan Westburg for sparks at various times. No wonder Elias was voted MLB Executive of the Year.
Best Dominance
Prior to suffering an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery, Félix Bautista was the most dominant reliever in baseball. Armed with a fastball that reached 103 mph and a wipeout splitter, “The Mountain” recorded a 1.48 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 61 innings, making him an obvious choice for AL Reliever of the Year. He also won AL Reliever of the Month … three times! Bautista was at his best when his team needed him the most — in two-inning stints to close out extra-inning games on the road. He did that four times, including the game that pushed the Orioles into sole possession of first place in the AL East at Tampa Bay on July 20.
Best Emergence
Kyle Bradish posted a 3.28 ERA with 65 strikeouts in his final 71.1 innings (13 starts) of 2022 following a stint on the injured list, signaling a possible breakout in 2023. That’s exactly what happened. Bradish recorded a 3.27 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 168.2 innings (30 starts), earning the Game 1 start in the ALDS. Solid throughout the season, he turned things up in the second half. In 14 starts after the All-Star break, he was 7-3 with 89 strikeouts, a 2.34 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Bradish finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting, the first Orioles starter to appear on multiple BBWAA ballots since Mike Mussina in 1999.
Best Man For The Moment
Cedric Mullins didn’t close out the season the way he wanted, but he had a flair for the dramatic throughout the year. Think about it: The cycle against the Pirates in May; taking a three-run home run away from Byron Buxton in July; the home run robbery and go-ahead two-run homer against the Mariners in August; the walk-off sacrifice fly against the Rays in September, and the go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning against the Astros a day later. We’re accepting any answer as your favorite.
Best Aquatic-Themed Adventure
Cole Irvin’s first season as an Oriole might not have gone as planned on the field but his impact was significant nonetheless. In April, he helped introduce the “Homer Hose,” the final stage of the team’s water-themed celebrations for base hits. He then suggested the possibility of a “splash zone,” and it became a reality in May. The “Bird Bath” was an instant hit, with tickets in left center field becoming the hottest (and wettest) in the park. “Mr. Splash” became the biggest folklore figure in the city since at least “Kegasus.”
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