Baltimore Orioles Veteran Starter Shows Promise in First Spring Training Start

When the Baltimore Orioles acquired starting pitcher Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2024 MLB trade deadline, the organization knew that they were getting a solidified top of the rotation arm. 

Eflin posted a 2.60 ERA in nine starts for Baltimore in 2024, and was expected to be the teams' ace for the following season. Unfortunately for Eflin, his 2025 campaign did not go as planned. 

Eflin would deal with multiple injuries throughout the season that would significantly affect his play. In 2025, Eflin would post a 5.63 ERA in 14 starts, which was the second worst mark of his career.  

Eflin's 2025 season was officially ruled over when he got lumbar microdiscectomy surgery in August of 2025. 

Despite the season ending surgery, Baltimore took one more chance on Eflin, signing him to a one-year contract extension for the 2026 season with hopes that he can return to his all-star form. 

Eflin's offseason consisted of a lot of rehab to regain the strength in his throwing arm. Although Eflin had to miss the first two weeks of spring training, he was finally able to make his spring debut earlier today against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

What was a highly anticipated appearance for Eflin went exactly as planned, throwing two innings of scoreless baseball with three strikeouts. 

Eflin pounded the strike zone, reintroducing what made him such a successful pitcher in the past. Eflin's control is his calling card, as he hasn't had a season with higher than 2.0 BB/9 since 2020 with the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The veteran used six different pitches today: sinker (40%), sweeper (17.5%), curveball (15%), four seam fastball (12.5%), cutter (10%) and a changeup (5%). Eflin has always had a high variety of pitches, but his ability to throw strikes in the zone is what makes him such a strong starting pitcher. 

Eflin's breaking balls today were phenomenal, as he got a 100% whiff rate on his curveball and a 50% whiff rate on his sweeper. 

Last season, Eflin struggled with his velocity, as his sinker averaged only 91.7 MPH. However, we saw Eflin reach up to 94 MPH on his sinker and fastball today, which is a great sight to see. If Eflin can get his velocity back and maintain it throughout the season, it makes him that much more of a threat. 

Eflin's veteran presence will elevate Baltimore's pitching rotation, but if he can return to his 2024 form, Baltimore could have one of the better pitching rotations in all of baseball.