Over the past few seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have built a reputation on the back of their young core. From the infield riches of Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg to the arm of future ace in the making Grayson Rodriguez, this is a team with a clear vision for sustained success.

Anchoring the bullpen, of course, is the dominant Félix Bautista.

But beyond Bautista, the rest of the Orioles’ bullpen picture has been a mixed bag.

In 2024, Baltimore’s relief corps posted a 4.22 ERA, ranking 21st in the majors. The second half was even worse, with a 4.97 ERA — third worst in baseball during that stretch.

Injuries, inconsistency, and a misfire in veteran addition Craig Kimbrel contributed to a bullpen that often failed to hold leads or stop the bleeding in close games.

As the Orioles turned their offseason focus toward the rotation and awaited Bautista’s return from Tommy John surgery, the bullpen mostly faded into the background.

But that doesn’t mean it was going to stay quiet and right handed reliever Bryan Baker is making sure of that.

Once on the verge of becoming a minor league journeyman, Baker’s story is one of persistence.

Drafted by the Rockies, shuffled to the Blue Jays, and eventually claimed off waivers by the Orioles in 2021, Baker has bounced between Triple-A Norfolk and the big-league club for the better part of three seasons.

He showed flashes in 2022 and 2023, but command issues were his downfall — posting walk rates of 8.9% and a ballooning 12.9% in back-to-back years.

After starting 2024 in Norfolk to refine his mechanics and regain control, Baker returned late in the season, putting up a 5.01 ERA in 19 appearances — a number that certainly didn’t jump off the page, but he showed signs of progress.

Bryan Baker’s quiet reinvention could be a game-changer for the Orioles’ bullpen in 2025

Now, just a couple weeks into the 2025 season, Baker is making sure people take notice.

In five appearances out of the bullpen, Baker has been remarkable. He’s allowed just three hits over 5.1 innings, striking out seven and issuing zero walks.

Baker spent the offseason reworking his changeup grip, searching for a feel that could turn it from a show-me pitch into a true out-pitch.

So far, it’s working. Three of his seven strikeouts this season have come from his changeup, and opponents are still searching for their first hit off of it.

Bryan Baker so far this season:

3.2 innings
2 hits
0 runs
0 walks
6 strikeouts

Here’s the filthy changeup he just threw to strike out Ceddanne

Rafaela pic.twitter.com/MAiTKYuWqk

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) April 3, 2025

“He’s had some really good appearances for us,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer. “He’s throwing his offspeed stuff for strikes & he’s 0-1. That’s the key to Baker, is getting ahead of the count, because he’s got good stuff. He’s doing that so far this year.”

Earning Hyde’s trust is no small feat, especially in a bullpen that is still defining its roles behind Bautista. But Baker’s early usage speaks volumes.

He’s already closed out two games in non-save situations, a sign that Hyde sees him as a dependable late-inning option.

With the spotlight elsewhere — on Adley Rutschman’s leadership, on Jackson Holliday’s emergence, on the rotation’s growing pains — Bryan Baker is carving out a lane of his own. If this early surge is more than a flash in the pan, the Orioles may have found a crucial piece to help stabilize the bullpen.