Washington DC Sports Today

Washington DC Sports News Continuously Updated

Three Orioles Players Poised To Erupt In 2026

by

A lot needs to go right for the Baltimore Orioles in 2026 to return to the playoffs. The team struggled on the pitching side of the ball and at the plate. Offensively, there lies the most disappointment, with several players either struggling outright or being lost to injury.

The team ranked in the bottom half in OPS, overall average, and strikeouts. While they were around average in home runs and runs overall, the team was wildly inconsistent and underachieved, especially from their star contributors. With runners in scoring position, the team has hit .245/.313/.746 and struck out 285 times with 1029 at-bats.

For 2026, there has to be more emphasis on scoring runs in critical situations and capitalizing on the basepaths. Luckily, three players could be destined for a breakout or bounce-back season next year.

Jackson Holliday Could Prove His Top-Prospect Wings

Jackson Holliday (pictured) and Ryan O'Hearn are the two Orioles finalists to start the MLB All-Star Game.
Jun 11, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) hits a single during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

2025 Stats: 500 ABs; .244/.306/.684; 18 doubles; 2 triples; 15 HR; 49 RBI; 39 BB to 121 K; 13 SB on 22 attempts.

Being a former number one overall pick and a former top prospect is daunting enough. It becomes even more stressful when you’re hailed as the organization’s savior after another 100-loss season. That’s exactly what Jackson Holliday walked into, and he did well in the minors to earn a quick call-up.

Following a limited 2023, Holliday saw improvement for the Orioles in 2024. The 21-year-old registered increases in home run rates, line drive percentages, and using the opposite field a little more.  Even his isolated power ticked upward while maintaining a respectable 7% walk rate. The only downside is a decrease in hard-hit balls.

Metrics-wise, he still has a lot of room for improvement, especially with regard to finding the sweet spot and his bat speed. The good news is that his chase rate remains low, and he only has one glaring whiff issue in the zone at the top left corner. A foundation exists for him to get better.

Holliday’s impact on the Orioles and his overall development hinge on his bat mechanics and continued strides in decision-making. A faster bat speed and better use of the sweet spot will always lead to better exit velocities and more balls in the air. It’s up to the coaching staff to tap into that potential.

Samuel Basallo Deserves A Long Look In The Majors

2025 Stats (Minors): 270 ABs; .270/.377/.966; 17 doubles; 23 HR; 67 RBI; 44 BB to 76 K; 0 SB

Another tale of a top prospect in the farm system, a chunk of Basallo’s season was also lost due to injury. Still, he was able to nearly finish his minor league career, if it is, with another season over .900 OPS and at least 20 home runs. He absolutely can be one of the team’s main pillars if he pans out.

Basallo hits the ball hard when his bat makes contact. He ranked either at the top or close to the top in sweet-spot, hard-hit, and overall barrel percentage. He did struggle with chase rates being out of the zone. However, most balls inside the zone were crushed for runs.

The good news for Basallo is that there might be an opening for first base soon. Ryan Mountcastle is going into his last year of arbitration, and his power has cratered. With first base generally considered a power position, four home runs and an OPS under .700 isn’t ideal. Basallo should easily outmuscle Mountcastle for the position.

There’s been discussion about All-Star catcher Adley Rutshcman possibly losing his spot to Basallo in 2026, as well. That will not happen given the fact that Rutschman is a statistically better defender. Plus, if both of them are firing on all cylinders, the second and fourth lineup spots for the Orioles are covered for a long time.

Dylan Beavers Set To Be A Centerpiece In The Outfield

2025 Stats (Minors): 342 ABs; .304/.420/.935; 14 doubles; 2 triples; 18 HRs; 51 RBIs; 68 BB to 76 K; 23 SB in 28 attempts

Perhaps nowhere else was there a more disappointing player on the Orioles than outfielder Heston Kjerstad. The fans have been waiting for him to emerge as a fixture in the outfield, and that has not happened. Instead, his -1.7 WAR is one of the worst among outfielders with at least 50 games played, and his walk rate is below 4%.

Enter Dylan Beavers, who is their second-highest rated outfield prospect behind recent draftee Ike Irish. Same with Basallo, he hits the ball well, and it goes pretty far when the bat makes contact. The added plus with Beavers is that he also has a really good eye, earning a 16% percent walk rate against an 18% strikeout rate. His 20% whiff rate ranks at the 84th percentile in Triple-A.

The 23-year-old has already made a notable impact with the Orioles since being called up earlier in August. In 12 games, he’s slashing a .306/.432/.932 line with eight walks and a home run with four RBIs. To hold a walk rate over 20% this early, no matter how small the sample size, is the most wonderful thing you can ask for a rookie. Expect him to be a perennial all-star if the Orioles keep him on the right track.

The post Three Orioles Players Poised To Erupt In 2026 appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.