BALTIMORE -- For a significant part of Tyler O'Neill's nine-year MLB career, he has been a productive slugger. He hit 88 home runs with an .814 OPS in 419 games for the Cardinals and Red Sox from 2021-24, twice hitting 31 or more homers in a season.
However, the past two years in Baltimore have been quite challenging for O'Neill. In 2025, he was limited to 54 games due to three stints on the injured list, also struggling when healthy. In '26, the 30-year-old outfielder has been more available, but he is off to a start that has been disappointing -- for him, for the club and for everyone.
"Struggling is a part of the game," said O'Neill, who signed a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles prior to the 2025 season. "But I know what I’ve done in this league and the way I can produce, and that’s what I lean back on."
It may also be helping O'Neill finally find success as he could be potentially turning a corner this season.
Over the past week-plus, O'Neill hit .350 (7-for-20) with four doubles during an active five-game hitting streak that he'll carry into the O's series opener vs. the Mariners on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park. He had a pair of two-hit showings last Wednesday vs. Seattle and last Friday against San Diego -- more than he had from March 26-June 9, a 41-game stretch in which his only two-hit performance occurred April 7 vs. the White Sox.
O'Neill nearly ended his 18-game homerless streak as well. In Saturday's loss to the Padres, his 365-foot flyout to left field would have been a home run in 29 of 30 MLB ballparks, per Statcast -- all but Camden Yards.
"It’s been cool, man. Getting some hits to drop in, starting to hit the ball on the barrel a little more," said O'Neill, who is hitting .190 with a .566 OPS overall. "It’s been a lot of work in the cage, a lot of swings, grinding through it. But the guys in here are great, rooting me on every step of the way. Just trying to do everything I can to help the team win on a daily basis."
Although O'Neill hasn't made any major swing/stance changes, he said he's been doing a lot of "video analysis," while making sure to have a good routine while going through his prep work ahead of games. He noted that after a strong Spring Training he "wasn’t producing the batted balls" he was accustomed to, which he believes was a reason for the sluggish start.
So, what exactly is it about O'Neill's at-bats of late that have led to better results?
"The biggest thing with him is just trying to stay short to the ball and really improve his direction," hitting coach Dustin Lind said. "The early part of the season, the swing was just a little bit long, it was taking him some time to catch up to stuff. And now, he’s just been much more direct, Point A to Point B. It’s really helped him to cover more pitches in more areas of the zone."
It can be frustrating for players to feel as if they're putting in good work behind the scenes that isn't translating onto the field during games. For weeks, manager Craig Albernaz had been praising O'Neill's at-bat quality and the way he was dedicating so much time to the batting cages in an effort to get on track.
Though it took some time, O'Neill's progress has become visible where it actually matters.
"At the end of the day, the players want results. And when you have the process -- and even though you’re not getting the results -- that’s the kind of mental war that’s going on in your head for players," Albernaz said. "But now that T.O. is starting to get some results, I wouldn’t say it’s a big relief, but it’s just a great acknowledgement that all the work that he’s been putting in is now showing up on the field."
O'Neill's goals for the rest of the 2026 season are simple: Continue to stay healthy, build on his recent results and help the Orioles reach the postseason.
The other players in Baltimore's clubhouse are confident in O'Neill's ability to keep playing better.
"Everyone’s been really positive every step of the way. Guys know I’m going to come out of it," O'Neill said. "It’s just a matter of time before things start to piece together."
And O'Neill has the same level of confidence in the O's (34-39) to go on a run in the near future.
"Baseball is such a long season, you’re going to go through stretches where it doesn’t go as good and where it goes really good. It’s just a matter of keeping those good stretches going, and we certainly have the capability to do that, man," O'Neill said. "So I’ve got a lot of belief in this group here."