Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias had an injury update to share at spring training.
The Baltimore Orioles entered spring training focused on refining a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the organization’s biggest strengths. With a wave of young arms progressing through the system, the Orioles have emphasized internal development as a key piece of their long‑term success.
That approach has been especially important in the bullpen, where Baltimore has relied on a mix of emerging prospects and under‑the‑radar contributors to build depth. Over the past few seasons, the organization has worked to develop reliable relief options from within rather than leaning heavily on external additions.
Spring training is often where those efforts begin to take shape. It provides young pitchers the opportunity to prove they can contribute at higher levels while also giving the front office a clearer picture of its depth heading into the regular season. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that evaluation process has taken an early hit.
General manager Mike Elias shared an unfortunate injury update regarding one of those developing arms.
“Right-hander Keegan Gillies has a ‘severe’ quad strain and will be out six weeks or more, Mike Elias said,” reported Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner.
The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating for the Orioles, as it halts momentum for a pitcher who had been steadily climbing the organizational ladder. Gillies, originally drafted by Baltimore in the 2021 MLB Draft, has spent his entire professional career developing within the system, embodying the type of internally built arm the franchise has prioritized.
Primarily a relief pitcher, Gillies reached Triple‑A for the first time last season, marking a significant step forward in his progression. Across five minor-league seasons, he has posted a 3.53 ERA over 127 appearances, adding 189 strikeouts along the way. Those numbers reflect both durability and effectiveness, traits that made him a viable bullpen option entering 2026.
This injury is impactful not because Gillies was guaranteed a major-league role on Opening Day, but because he represented valuable depth at a time when pitching depth is critical. For a team with postseason aspirations, having multiple reliable bullpen options ready to step in over the course of a long season is essential.
Losing Gillies for at least six weeks delays his opportunity to compete for a role and forces the Orioles to look elsewhere for early‑season bullpen support. It also disrupts his development timeline at a crucial stage, just as he was knocking on the door of big-league consideration.
For an organization built on development, even the loss of a rising, under‑the‑radar reliever can carry meaningful consequences.