This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- As the American League East-leading Orioles continue their push toward the postseason over the next two months, their roster could undergo notable changes.
Some of Baltimore’s most noteworthy additions could come within the next few days, prior to Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. On Friday, general manager Mike Elias stated the club’s intent to add pitching by then.
The O’s already acquired reliever Shintaro Fujinami, landing the 6-foot-6 right-hander in a trade with the A’s on July 19. The club is hopeful Fujinami will pitch high-leverage innings down the stretch.
The trade market isn’t the only way for a team to make impactful additions amid a pennant race, though. Here are three players mentioned by Elias on Friday who are already in the organization and could contribute for the Orioles in August, September and maybe deep into October.
1. LHP John Means
Means, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022, continues to make encouraging progress following a setback in May, when he sustained a strain to his left teres major (a muscle in the scapula/upper back region). Elias said the 30-year-old left-hander should begin pitching in games in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in early August.
A former All-Star, Means was one of Baltimore’s best pitchers from 2019-21, when he recorded a 3.73 ERA over 67 games (63 starts). Even if he isn’t built up enough to start this season, he could contribute out of the Orioles’ bullpen -- a possibility Elias mentioned.
“Obviously, he’s a starting pitcher from a career standpoint and a skill-set standpoint, but the circumstances of the team -- and him, in particular -- will drive that decision,” Elias said.
2. LHP DL Hall
It’s been an unusual year for Hall, who has been at the team’s complex in Sarasota, Fla., since mid-June. The O’s wanted the 24-year-old left-hander to focus on weight training and increasing his velocity, which had dipped following an offseason back injury.
Hall, Baltimore’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, didn’t pitch in any Minor League games between June 14 and Tuesday, when he worked a scoreless inning in the FCL. What’s next?
“The interesting part of the decision with DL Hall will be whether to build him all the way back up to four-plus innings, like we would with a starting pitcher,” Elias said, “or possibly see fit to truncate that, get him up and running as a relief option for the stretch.”
Late in the 2022 season, Hall proved he can be an effective reliever, as he posted a 1.04 ERA over his final eight appearances.
3. INF Joey Ortiz
Ortiz, the Orioles’ No. 5 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 61 overall prospect, has gotten his first taste of the big leagues this year over three stints with the O’s. However, the 25-year-old hasn’t been up since being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on June 26.
But Elias indicated Ortiz should be back in the Majors later on, and for good reason: He’s batting .368 in 24 games since returning to Triple-A, plus he’s a great defender in the infield.
“We’re thrilled that we have him right now waiting in the wings. When you’ve got a deep organization, sometimes there are some really good players in Triple-A, but that’s the business,” Elias said. “He’ll get his opportunity here very soon.”
Dark horse: INF Jackson Holliday?
This is a longshot, and Elias downplayed the idea of Holliday (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect) reaching the big leagues this year. After all, the 19-year-old has already climbed from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie -- all before the one-year anniversary of his pro debut on Aug. 10.
But Holliday is tearing up Double-A (much like the two levels before it), slashing .396/.522/.660 with six doubles, one triple, two homers and 16 RBIs through 14 games. So never say never. He wouldn’t be the first teenager to debut in MLB (such as Bryce Harper and Juan Soto, to name a pair).
“I wouldn’t rule it out, but I mean, I just don’t rule out anything,” Elias said. “One step at a time. He’s in Double-A; he was in high school a year ago. He’s doing very, very, very, very well. If he climbs beyond Double-A this year, it would be borderline unprecedented. I don’t want to put any more on his plate, but continuing to accrue his Minor League experience.”