Brandon Young’s Emergence Gave The Baltimore Orioles A Boost In 2026

Just after the Baltimore Orioles wrapped up their spring training slate earlier this year, starting pitcher Brandon Young did not break the Orioles’ starting rotation to begin the year. The move wasn’t necessarily a surprising one.

Young was called up from the Orioles in the second half of the 2025 season, giving the team starts in a rotation that needed it. He made 12 starts, accumulating 57 ⅔ innings pitched and posting a 6.24 ERA in that span.

Those struggles were completely flipped once he got his opportunity in the rotation again in 2026.

The 28-year-old right-hander emerged to become one of the Orioles’ most reliable starting arms all year, as he stayed consistent throughout and gave Baltimore the innings they needed. Young improved his numbers as he posted a 3.56 ERA in 156 ⅔ innings, which was a new development for his workload, but did not change his performance on the mound.

Young was effective in many ways on the mound for the Orioles across the 28 starts he made. He found success through his high ground ball rate, as he had a tally of 42.4%. His command was still slightly shaky as he nearly accumulated a 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio, but his ability to garner contact for outs was efficient.

In his first full season on the mound, Young was not necessarily the ace out of the Orioles’ rotation, but did turn into one of the team’s most notable success stories for an arm with minimal expectations heading into the year. What he also proved was that he can be a piece that can contribute going forward as well.

Baltimore’s rotation was bitten with their own variety of inconsistencies. Injuries would end up sidelining Zach Eflin and Chris Bassitt for significant periods of time during the year, while other starters had their own share of struggles in the rotation throughout the year. 

However, Young’s numbers stayed consistent throughout the entirety of the season. He has suddenly turned himself into a starter whose name is certainly in the equation to pitch a lot of innings for the Orioles next year. 

Although he didn’t start the year in the rotation, Young’s innings total ended up being in the top-three among Orioles pitchers this season, trailing only Shane Baz and Trevor Rogers. As Baltimore turns their attention to an offseason with many changes likely ahead, one remains certain in Young being a core piece of the Orioles’ future going forward.