PROJECTED STARTERS
1B Ryan Mountcastle — 57 extra-base hits last year; only Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. had more as Baltimore rookies.
2B Rougned Odor — One-dimensional power hitter; will share time with walk-averse speedster Jorge Mateo.
SS Ramon Urias — Led AL rookies in OBP last season; Richie Martin still around, but offensively challenged.
3B Kelvin Gutierrez — Batted .290 last September; has not hit more than 11 homers in pro ball.
LF Austin Hays — Crushes left-handed pitching; uses plus arm well from either outfield corner.
CF Cedric Mullins — Statcast darling; delivered Orioles’ first 30/30 season ever in 2021, after 72 OPS-plus in first 15 games.
RF Anthony Santander — Only Chris Davis has hit more homers onto Eutaw Street outside Camden Yards; .286 OBP last year suggests regression.
C Jacob Nottingham — Solid defensive catcher; signed minor-league deal to be place-holder until uber-prospect Adley Rutschman arrives.
DH Trey Mancini — Encouraging production after missing 2020 season; hit 35 homers three years ago.
ROTATION
LH John Means — Superb changeup, pitch-ability key for guy who served up 30 homers last year.
RH Jordan Lyles — Entering age-31 season coming off first 30-start year; relies heavily on slider.
LH Bruce Zimmermann — Not much margin for error for Braves’ discard; pitches backwards to get to 91-mph heat.
LH Keegan Akin — Has 6.19 ERA in 32 MLB games; hard-hit rate against him dropped by 6 percent last year.
LH Zac Lowther — Flashed big potential before 2020 COVID shutdown; needs to regain confidence.
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Cole Sulser (closer) — Second-best changeup in MLB last year, according to Fangraphs; tough on both righties and lefties.
RH Tyler Wells — Gave up lowest batting average last year by O’s rookie since Gregg Olson in 1989; mid-90s heat and three-pitch mix.
RH Tanner Scott — Works with hard slider, 97 mph heat; too often falls behind in count.
