The fan voting for the All-Star Game has wrapped up, and the Baltimore Orioles find themselves without a player making the team through this popular vote. But fear not, Orioles fans, because every team is guaranteed a representative, meaning someone from Baltimore will indeed take the field in Philadelphia for All-Star Weekend. The million-dollar question is: Who will it be?
At the season's outset, Gunnar Henderson seemed a shoo-in for an All-Star nod. However, his performance has been less than stellar, making his selection unlikely. Adley Rutschman was another early favorite with a blazing start, but two stints on the injured list have limited his playing time, casting doubt on his All-Star candidacy.
Pete Alonso, a familiar face at the All-Star Game, has been playing exceptionally well. However, the first base position in the American League is fiercely competitive.
With Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice making strong MVP cases and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. likely securing the fan vote, Alonso's path is anything but clear. The Red Sox's Willson Contreras is also in the mix, potentially tipping the balance of first basemen on the roster.
Samuel Basallo is another name worth mentioning. His performance would typically merit consideration, but the designated hitter spot is crowded with talents like Yordan Alvarez and Yandy Diaz, making it a tough field to break into.
Rico Garcia once seemed like a dark horse candidate for the Orioles. As the most dominant reliever in the AL at one point, his chances have dimmed after a rough June.
Enter Brandon Young, the unheralded hero of the Orioles' 2026 campaign. At the start of spring training, Young was buried on the depth chart, likely eighth among the Orioles' starting pitchers.
Had the Orioles decided to convert Tyler Wells into a starter, Young might have slipped to ninth. Meanwhile, prospects like Trey Gibson, Levi Wells, and Nester German were all expected to surpass him.
But as fate would have it, injuries plagued the Orioles' rotation, and Young got his chance on April 6th in Chicago. Expectations were low, especially after a challenging 2025 season where he posted a 6.24 ERA over 57 innings.
Yet, Young has defied the odds, delivering consistently strong performances, with the Orioles boasting a 10-2 record in his starts. Without his stabilizing presence, Baltimore's season might have been over before it began.
Among AL starters with at least 60 innings, Young's 3.07 ERA ranks ninth. While his advanced metrics might not shine as brightly as some of his peers, the All-Star Game is about celebrating actual on-field achievements. Based on his contributions this season, Brandon Young has earned the right to represent the Orioles at this year's All-Star Game.
In Other News...
Mike Elias Just Made Orioles Fans Revisit One Uncomfortable Question
The Orioles latest loss only deepened a stretch of uneven play that has put the teams direction back in focus, and it left Mike Elias in the familiar spot of having to reassure a frustrated fan base before the next game. The general manager met reporters with a message of confidence about where the organization is headed, while also stressing that the club is still working to turn its talent and planning into the kind of results Baltimore expected to see by now.
Elias also spoke candidly about the pressure that comes with his job, a reminder that this is not just about a rough night or even a rough week, but about the long view attached to every step the Orioles take. For a front office that has built up plenty of goodwill, the bigger question now is whether the current approach can deliver quickly enough to keep that optimism from turning into something a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Let Another Winnable Home Game Slip Away For One Brutal Reason
A winnable afternoon at Camden Yards slipped away in familiar fashion, with the Orioles showing enough early life at the plate to hint at a good result before the game turned into a grind. Baltimore had the chance to keep the pressure on Washington, but the Nationals kept finding cracks in the inning-by-inning rhythm and stayed in position to spoil the day.
Luis Garca Jr. was the biggest problem, driving Washingtons offense with a big extra-base day that included a home run and kept the Orioles from ever fully settling in. Baltimore did fight back late and had a path to make the finish interesting, but the margin was gone by then, and the loss cost the club the series as it fell to 39-46. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elias Just Raised The Stakes Of Adley Rutschmans Return
Mike Elias spent Tuesday trying to steady the conversation around an Orioles team that has been forced to navigate recent struggles while waiting for key pieces to come back. The president of baseball operations still sounded confident about the clubs direction, and Baltimore answered with a pair of roster moves that brought Adley Rutschman and Dylan Beavers back into the mix while Jeremiah Jackson and Sam Huff were moved out to clear space.
For the Orioles, the timing matters as much as the names. Getting Rutschman back helps reset the lineup and the clubhouse mood, and Beavers return adds another option at a time when the club is trying to rediscover its footing. Elias also made clear the front office is watching how July unfolds before making any hard deadline calls, so the next stretch of games may end up shaping not just Baltimores season, but how aggressively it tries to fortify the roster. [Read more 🡒]