Meet the Baltimore Orioles' Rookie Reliever Who's Poised to Break Out in 2026

If you want to contend for the World Series, you need a good bullpen. We saw first hand how crucial it was to have high leverage relievers in the 2025 MLB postseason.

Aroldis Chapman, Jhoan Duran, Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman and Andres Munoz, just to name a few.

The Los Angeles Dodgers understood that having elite arms in their bullpen results in wins, prompting them to poach closer Edwin Diaz from the New York Mets after signing him to a three-year, $69 million dollar contract in December. 

The Baltimore Orioles understood that as well, signing former National League Reliever of the Year award winner Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million dollar contract. 

However, I believe Baltimore has a secret weapon in their bullpen that is poised for an ever better 2026 campaign after making his MLB debut last year. 

Meet Kade Strowd, the reliever who possesses the most upside in Baltimore's bullpen. 

Strowd made his MLB debut on May 15, 2025 against the Washington Nationals where he gave up one run on two hits in one inning of work. 

Shortly after that game, Strowd was demoted back to Triple-A where he would have his best month in June. 

Strowd posted a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched that month, encouraging Baltimore to elevate him to the major league roster once again. 

In his second stint at the big league level, Strowd would post a 2.70 ERA in a small sample size of 3.1 innings; however, Strowd's upside was evident. 

Unfortunately for Strowd, he would get sent back down to Triple-A shortly after his big league appearances in June. 

This time, Strowd made sure to dial it up a notch. 

In eight appearances in the month of July, Strowd didn't give up a run 9.1 innings pitched, prompting Baltimore to call him up once again on July 27, 2025. 

Strowd continued his streak of elite play, as he didn't give up a run in 3.1 innings pitched over three appearances in July. 

The month of August when was Strowd made a name for himself, posting a 0.96 ERA with four strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work. 

Strowd continued to build on his efficient month of August in September, pitching to the tune of a 1.93 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 9.1 innings.

Strowd finished his 2025 campaign with a 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 24 strikeouts and a 0.9 WAR over 26.1 innings thrown. 

Strowd's numbers on paper were great, but let's take a deeper dive into his advanced stuff. 

Strowd posted a team best .206 slugging percentage and .190 wOBA against left handed hitters last season. 

Additionally, he was fourth in the bullpen with a .176 batting average against lefties, fourth best whiff rate at a 32.9% and third best strikeout rate at 35.1%.

Strowd also ranked in the 78th percentile in average fastball velocity at 96.0 MPH. 

His pitch mix of a cutter, four-seam fastball, sinker, curveball and sweeper is extremely appealing for Baltimore to use in late inning situations. 

I believe that Baltimore has only scraped the surface with Strowd's upside, and I wouldn't be shocked if the rookie is Baltimore's best reliever in 2026.