Stan “The Fan” Charles, Glenn Clark, Jeremy Conn, Jim Henneman and Todd Karpovich share their picks for Most Valuable Oriole and some runners-up.
Stan “The Fan” Charles
Most Valuable Oriole: Félix Bautista
Runners-Up: Kyle Bradish, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander
Not sure if GM Mike Elias did this by design, but, he has assembled a team of several very good players … and some haven’t even yet reached their peaks yet. As the Orioles close in on the AL East, it’s time to reflect on who is the Most Valuable Oriole.
There are several deserving candidates such as Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander. Even Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle deserve some love. My friend Glenn Clark put forth a compelling case for Kyle Bradish on his show recently.
But the one man they call “The Mountain,” the one man they flicker the lights for at Camden Yards, is my choice for Most Valuable Oriole of 2023.
I think in the end, what solved this jigsaw puzzle for me was watching how different and how much more difficult it has been for manager Brandon Hyde to close out games without his closer available since Aug. 26.
In 1994, the Orioles had a closer who ultimately ended up in the Hall of Fame in Lee Smith. He was physically very much Bautista’s equal in appearance. Smith pitched 38.1 innings during the strike-shortened season, posting a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 42 strikeouts as he neared the end of a brilliant career.
I looked it up because Smith and Bautista are so similar in my mind’s eye. I was blown away by how much bigger and better Bautista is than Smith.
Smith was 6-foot-5. Bautista is 6-foot-8. It may not seem like those 3 inches are a big deal, but here are Bautista’s numbers since the start of the 2022 season: 126.2 innings, 1.85 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 198 strikeouts.
Sure, the game has changed. Modern hitters approach at-bats differently than they did in the ’80s and ’90s, but Bautista’s stuff is so intense.
Who knows how this partial tear of his UCL will impact the longevity of the success he has had to this moment. But for this moment and all that he did through Aug. 25, whether he is miraculously able to pitch again this season, Félix Bautista is my Orioles MVP for 2023.
Turn out the lights.
Glenn Clark
Most Valuable Oriole: Kyle Bradish
As I type this, Gunnar Henderson’s bWAR (6.1) gives him a sizable lead over the next position player (Adley Rutschman, 4.0). But the second-highest bWAR on the team belongs to a player who has appeared in 117 fewer games than Henderson. Kyle Bradish’s 4.8 bWAR is actually fifth among pitchers in all of baseball this season. That’s staggering. He’s been the ace we’ve clamored for. The numbers he’s posted are the best for an Orioles starter since Mike Mussina in 1992. We still don’t talk about it enough.
Runner-Up: Gunnar Henderson
Look, I fully expect Gunnar Henderson to be named MVO. It will be well deserved. It is a shame that Félix Bautista didn’t stay healthy because he would have almost certainly been the guy. But Henderson has been great.
Jeremy Conn
Most Valuable Oriole: Gunnar Henderson
My Oriole MVP is Gunnar Henderson. He’s a lock to win AL Rookie of the Year. He’s played multiple positions extremely well and batted all throughout the lineup. He’s going to end up being one of the best players in baseball and I believe he will be competing for AL MVP awards in the future.
Jim Henneman
Most Valuable Oriole: Gunnar Henderson
The kid was the last of five or six legitimate candidates to jump into the pool — and he never looked back at his rocky start.
Runners-Up: Anthony Santander and Adley Rutschman
Hitting in front or behind Gunnar, Santander’s run production can’t be overlooked. At different times, Rutschman occupied either of the first two spots and finished strong. It’s impossible to weigh Félix Bautista’s contributions given the fact that, despite some ugliness, the team played the same before and after his injury.
Todd Karpovich
Most Valuable Oriole: Gunnar Henderson
While Austin Hays made the All-Star team and Anthony Santander might have gaudier power numbers, Henderson has been a catalyst for the Orioles throughout the season. He was also stellar defensively at both shortstop and third base. He should win American League Rookie of the Year.
Runner-Up: Kyle Bradish
While several Orioles starters have struggled with consistency, Bradish has been a steadying force in the rotation. He has emerged as the ace of the staff and could get down-ballot votes for the AL Cy Young Award.
Photo Credits: Colin Murphy/PressBox