SARASOTA, Fla. -- In exactly two weeks, the Orioles will open their 2026 season with a March 26 matchup against the Twins at Camden Yards.
Which 26 players will be on Baltimore’s roster? Here’s an updated projection for the O’s with Spring Training winding down.
Catcher (2): Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo
Rutschman remains the Orioles’ No. 1 catcher, but Basallo (MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall prospect) will get considerable time behind the plate as well. Expect to see them in the lineup together quite often, with both likely to get plenty of starts at designated hitter.
First basemen (2): Pete Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle
After signing a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore on Dec. 11, Alonso is now the team’s primary first baseman. The move seemed to signal that either Mountcastle or Coby Mayo would become a trade chip, but both have remained in the organization.
Mountcastle avoided arbitration with a $6.787 million deal that added a $7.5 million team option for 2027. The 28-year-old will serve as a right-handed bench bat capable of filling in at first base and DH.
Second baseman (1): Blaze Alexander
Alexander was acquired in a trade with the D-backs on Feb. 5 to become Baltimore’s new utility man, as the 26-year-old can play anywhere in the infield and all three outfield spots. He’ll eventually move around the diamond, but until Jackson Holliday (broken hamate bone in right hand) returns -- which will likely be in mid-April -- expect to see Alexander mostly at second.
Shortstop (1): Gunnar Henderson
Henderson had a “down” 2025 season by his lofty standards, but he was playing through a left shoulder impingement for much of the year. The 24-year-old is healthy and poised for a big ‘26, as he has shown with his stellar performance for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Third baseman (1): Coby Mayo
With Jordan Westburg (partial UCL tear) sidelined until at least May, Mayo has returned to the hot corner, where he mostly played while coming up through the Minors. As the 24-year-old has gotten reacclimated to third, he’s been raking, hitting .500 (13-for-26) across 10 Grapefruit League games.
Outfielders (5): Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras, Taylor Ward
Cowser became the starting center fielder during the final two months of last season after primarily playing the corners up to that point in his MLB career. The 25-year-old is set to remain in center entering his fourth big league season.
Ward (who was acquired in a trade with the Angels on Nov. 19), O’Neill and Beavers (MLB Pipeline’s No. 69 overall prospect) should combine to get the bulk of the starts in the corners while also factoring into the DH rotation. Taveras signed a one-year, $2 million deal on Nov. 6 to provide depth, particularly in center.
Former top prospect Heston Kjerstad has been trying to push his way onto the roster this spring, hitting two homers and posting an .823 OPS over 10 Grapefruit games. The 27-year-old could be ticketed for a return to Triple-A Norfolk, though, as he has one Minor League option remaining.
Utility infielder (1): Luis Vázquez
Jeremiah Jackson, Weston Wilson and Thairo Estrada are in the mix for the final bench spot as well, but Vázquez’s elite defense at second, third and shortstop could give him the edge, especially if Mayo is serving as the everyday starter at third. Vázquez had also shown more offensive potential before leaving camp to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC.
Starting Pitchers (5): RHP Kyle Bradish, LHP Trevor Rogers, RHP Shane Baz, RHP Chris Bassitt, RHP Dean Kremer
The O’s have six options here, and a six-man rotation hasn’t been ruled out. However, right-hander Zach Eflin is coming off of back surgery and was later getting into Grapefruit action -- his first (and only so far) start was March 5 -- so he could begin the season with a short IL stint.
Relief Pitchers (8): RHP Ryan Helsley (closer), LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Yennier Cano, LHP Dietrich Enns, RHP Rico Garcia, RHP Jackson Kowar, LHP Grant Wolfram, RHP Tyler Wells
The locks among this group are Helsley, Akin and Wells, who should be a high-leverage option after working mostly as a starter when healthy from 2022-25. Right-hander Andrew Kittredge is dealing with right shoulder inflammation and has a low probability of being ready for Opening Day, though his IL stint is likely to be short.
Cano (a 2.25 ERA in four Grapefruit outings), Garcia (three scoreless innings) and Wolfram (four scoreless frames) are pitching their way into bullpen roles, while Enns is valuable as an additional lefty capable of working multi-inning stints, if needed.
That leaves one final spot, which could go to Kowar, who is out of Minor League options and has flashed velocity sitting around 98-99 mph. The O’s are intrigued by his arm and may not want to risk losing him by trying to pass him through waivers.