MLB’s awards season came to a conclusion on Thursday night with the announcement of the MVPs. Following their American League-best record and 101 regular season victories, the Baltimore Orioles players and staff were frequently included on lists of nominees for awards, and they were duly recognized. Let’s examine every piece of equipment that arrived in Baltimore this season.
Executive of the Year: Mike Elias
Mike Elias was appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager by the Orioles in 2019. Elias was tasked with dismantling and reconstructing the Orioles so that they could once again contend for the top spot in baseball. Elias presented a five-year strategy that eventually came full circle, but with a torturous three-year period of suffering. Elias drafted or acquired a number of the players who helped the Orioles win the AL East division this year, either through trade or free agency.
People demanded adjustments after all of the losses, but Elias remained true to his strategy. With the guys selected in Elias’ draft, the rebuild is finally complete.
The Manager of the Year is Brandon Hyde.
While a large portion of the credit for assembling the Orioles puzzle should go to Elias, manager Brandon Hyde also deserves recognition for connecting the parts. In 2019, Hyde made an attempt to assemble a winning product at the O’s even though he lacked the finest components. Hyde now has extra components because of the Orioles minor league system’s expansion and improvement.
Hyde led the Birds to 101 victories by making use of every player available. In order to maximize the performance of his reserve players during Orioles injuries, he platooned multiple positions, pushed the pitching staff to reach new heights, and more. Having placed second in 2022
Gunnar Henderson was the only Birdland player to win more hardware this season. Henderson lived up to expectations after coming into the season as the top overall prospect and clear favorite to take home the Rookie of the Year trophy. He was chosen as the Player’s Choice Outstanding Rookie to kick off awards season, and he then won the Silver Slugger at utility position.
He won the AL Rookie of the Year unanimously on Monday to start awards week, and he ended seventh in the MVP standings at the end of the week. This 22-year-old rising star, who was also awarded the Most Valuable Oriole and made to the MLB All-Rookie first team at the end of the season, has nothing but success ahead of him.
Some thought Adley Rutschman was already major league ready defensively, but he needed to develop on his offense when he was selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. Rutschman showcased his improved all-around game in his first complete major league season. Adley was selected as a finalist for the Gold Glove award, but Texas Rangers player Jonah Heim won.
After surpassing all other qualified AL catchers in hits, batting average, doubles, total bases, OBP, and OPS, he was later given the Silver Slugger at the catcher’s position. Rutschman is a team leader who is only becoming better; he finished eighth in the MVP poll. He needs to make sure there is enough space for him close to his Silver Slugger.