The Orioles were eliminated at 78-81, and the article says their 2027 offensive rebound depends most on Gunnar Henderson: he hit .225/.310/.405 with a 102 OPS+ in 2026, down from a 155 OPS+ and 37 homers in 2024.
The article argues most lineup help will have to come from within: Baltimore hit .233 as a team, 28th in MLB, and its .707 OPS ranked 23rd. Pete Alonso accounted for 41 of the team’s 194 home runs after signing a five-year, $155 million deal; the Orioles also traded Adley Rutschman at the deadline.
Tyler O’Neill hit .212/.300/.377 with 10 homers in 85 games and ended 2026 on the injured list with shoulder inflammation; Colton Cowser finished at .223/.313/.365 with 13 homers (93 OPS+), while Jackson Holliday hit .229/.300/.340 with seven homers (83 OPS+) in 98 games. Jordan Westburg missed the season after Tommy John surgery; Mike Elias said a return as a full player early in 2027 was very much in play. Coby Mayo, by contrast, was framed as needing a repeat after hitting 24 homers with a 112 OPS+.
