Manager Brandon Hyde is gone—can a healthier rotation and improved offense turn Baltimore Orioles' season around?
The
Baltimore Orioles
sent shockwaves through
Major League Baseball
this weekend, announcing the firing of manager Brandon Hyde—a decision that signals more than just dissatisfaction with a rocky start. It's a drastic attempt to breathe life back into a team that entered the 2025 season with postseason aspirations, only to fall into one of the deepest early-season slumps in recent memory. Hyde's dismissal isn't merely about his win-loss record; it's the front office's way of telling fans, 'We're not standing still.'
With Brandon Hyde out and help on the way, is this the turning point the Orioles desperately needed?
Despite leading the Orioles through a grueling rebuild and overseeing a youth-laden roster that made back-to-back playoff appearances,
Brandon Hyde
finds himself out after compiling a 421-493 record. His 2023 AL Manager of the Year award and World Series pedigree as a Cubs bench coach in 2016 weren't enough to save him from the weight of unmet expectations. At 15-28, with the team 10.5 games out of first and possessing the worst ERA in the American League (5.33), the Orioles had little room for patience.
What makes this decline even more jarring is how much talent remains on the roster. This is largely the same group that notched 101 wins just two seasons ago. But 2025 has delivered a harsh reality check. The offense has sputtered to 25th in runs scored—a dramatic fall from their top-10 rankings in previous seasons. Losing power-hitter Anthony Santander in free agency didn't help, but the larger concern lies in the core. Adley Rutschman (.214 AVG, 90 OPS+) and Jordan Westburg (.217 AVG, 88 OPS+) have been shadows of their 2023 selves. Even Gunnar Henderson, though not terrible, hasn't hit the MVP stride many expected.
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The turnaround needs to start immediately, and it must begin with the bats. There is hope, however. Rutschman and Westburg have shown flashes of breaking out, while Ryan O'Hearn and top prospect Jackson Holliday are offering sparks of consistency. If this offense clicks again—and quickly—the Orioles could climb back into the wild card conversation.
On the mound, the story isn't any prettier. The bullpen ranks 26th in the league with a 4.96 ERA, but the pieces suggest potential. Félix Bautista's absence has been glaring, but Yennier Cano, Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto, and Bryan Baker all have the track records to stabilize things if they find form.
The real concern sits in the starting rotation, which currently boasts the third-worst ERA in baseball (5.60). Only the Marlins and Rockies have fared worse. Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano have provided some stability—Sugano especially, with a 3.08 ERA through nine starts—but the rest of the rotation has failed to deliver.
There's cautious optimism surrounding the eventual return of Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, both of whom could form a formidable quartet alongside Eflin and Sugano. Dean Kremer and Albert Suárez could offer additional depth if they regain form. But banking on injury returns and sudden revivals carries no guarantees.
Still, there's a blueprint—however fragile—for recovery. The 2022 Phillies fired Joe Girardi midseason at 22-29 and reached the World Series with Rob Thomson. The 2019 Nationals began the year 19-31 before winning it all. 'Can the Orioles make a similar run? Let's see if we can look with orange-colored glasses here and find a way back to contention.'
The Orioles' season isn't lost—yet. The expanded wild card format keeps a faint door open, but the clock is ticking. Brandon Hyde's firing may not have been fair, but it was the front office's gamble to inject urgency into a faltering squad.
The road ahead is narrow and filled with "ifs," but with the talent already in the clubhouse, a dramatic turnaround isn't out of the question. It may not be likely, but the percentage chance of this move triggering a Phillies-style revival? It's better than zero.
Also Read:
Brandon Hyde's firing sparks heartbreak and accountability from Orioles players in emotional aftermath
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