Orioles Outfield Stars Excited To Start Third Year Together
The Baltimore Orioles enter the season with high hopes due to what the team did last year, a season that ended with an American League East title.
That success, however, didn't come overnight. It took years of disappointment, inconsistency and roster construction through the draft.
Part of that construction has been the team's consistency in the outfield. The Orioles enter this season with the same projected starting outfield for the third straight season — Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santander.
Santander can swing the bat at an elite level after blasting 28 home runs and driving in 95 RBIs last season. Hays was an All-Star last season and won his arbitration hearing with the Orioles last month. Mullins is a former All-Star and Silver Slugger who is looking for a bounce-back season after batting .233 last season.
Together, they are one of the best units in baseball.
“We’ve been doing this for a few years now, especially with the same group," Mullins said per 11 Sports. "It’s exciting to be back with the same core, looking forward for a great season.”
Roster consistency is key for successful teams. The Houston Astros are great evidence of that, as they have reached the playoffs every year since 2017 and have two World Series title. Yes, the Astros have allowed a few players to walk over the years, but they've retained a core of players and have remained successful.
Baltimore has a chance to do that with their outfield again this season, but decisions are also looming. All three are closing in on their opportunity to explore free agency, and the Orioles have at least two Top 100 outfielders waiting in the wings, both of which got a taste of the Majors last season — Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad.
This is as big an upcoming season as these three outfielders have experienced. After winning 101 games the expectations are high. The trio appears good with the pressure.
In fact, the Orioles as a team seem just fine with the expectations that come with winning as they look to compete for a trip to the World Series in 2024.
