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Figuring Out the Worst Player on the Orioles This Year

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It’s no secret that the Baltimore Orioles were one of the most disappointing teams of 2025. After finishing 2024 with a quick playoff exit, the team is poised to finish around 10 games below .500. Several aspects of the team either underperformed or outright failed this season.

The team’s pitching finished near the bottom five in ERA, WHIP, and home runs surrendered. Their lineup suffered the same fate by finishing with the sixth-worst batting average and below-average OPS. Some players had great seasons, but several others failed to contribute positively to the team’s aspirations.

A recent article from Bleacher Report suggested pitcher Zach Eflin was the worst player on the team. There’s an argument that he might actually not be the worst. Three different players had a statistically worse season than Eflin did in 2025.

Jun 28, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin (24) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Multiple Contenders for the Worst Orioles Player of 2025

Ryan Mountcastle

2025 Stats: 345 plate appearances; .252/.287/.651; 18 doubles; six home runs; 33 RBI; 14 BB to 96 K; 3 SB

Ryan Mountcastle‘s decline is the culmination of years of decreasing power potential and growing impatience at the plate. The 28-year-old’s walk rate has declined from 8% to 4%, while his strikeout rate increased to 28% in 2025. Making it worse, his home run rate has crashed from 6% in 2021 to now under 2%, a poor result for a position considered to be power-heavy.

It’s a bit confusing, given that Mountcastle’s hard-hit percentage actually is increasing year-over-year. At the same time, his flyball percentage is declining as more of his batted balls are grounders. He’s topping more balls than ever before, around 34% of his contact, with only 17% being under the ball. There’s a slight decrease in his bat speed, but he’s slowly losing contact abilities at the plate.

Mountcastle essentially blocked Samuel Basallo from being called up for the first half of the year, despite his poor play. He eventually lost his starting job to Coby Mayo as his power continued to decline. Given that he’s in his final year of arbitration, he likely won’t be around the team much longer. But he has a strong case to be considered, at least, the team’s worst hitter.

Charlie Morton

2025 Stats with Baltimore: 23 appearances (17 starts); 7-8; 5.42 ERA; 101 1/3 IP; 110 hits and 48 BB (1.559 WHIP); 16 HR; 101 K

The 41-year-old veteran was an interesting signing for the team in the wake of ace pitcher Corbin Burnes going to the Arizona Diamondbacks. There were questions on whether the former All-Star could continue to pitch effectively. Given that the Orioles had signed Charlie Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract, they needed him to pitch to his worth.

Morton’s March and April saw him pitch to a 9.45 ERA while surrendering 21 walks over 26 2/3 innings pitched. He also surrendered 37 hits, bringing his WHIP to 2.175, along with six home runs. He substantially improved in May, bringing his ERA down to four and surrendering only five walks in 20 1/3 innings.

Before being traded to the Detroit Tigers, Morton put in a fantastic June with a 2.88 ERA with eight walks and no home runs over 25 innings. He also struck out 32. But it doesn’t erase the horrific start he endured at the beginning of the season. The 41-year-old arguably had a worse tenure than Eflin did.

Yennier Cano

2025 Stats: 63 appearances; 3-7; 5.01 ERA; 55 2/3 innings pitched; 58 hits and 23 walks (1.445 WHIP); 7 home runs; 51 K

The Orioles’ bullpen had been one of the saving graces for the team in 2025. Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto helped anchor the back of the bullpen, with Felix Bautista being the closer. Dominguez and Soto are now on different teams, while Bautista is expected to miss 2026 with a torn labrum and rotator cuff.

Yennier Cano‘s performance made him stand out as the worst consistent player in the bullpen. His sinker and slider did have some success, but his changeup and four-seamer got crushed by batters. The 31-year-old does induce a lot of ground balls. Around 55% of his pitches went back on the ground, with 45% in the air, but a lot of his fly balls went for doubles or home runs.

There are some positive attributes for Cano, including ranking in the 90th percentile for groundballs and barrel percentage. He also has a low 36% hard-hit percentage. The problem is putting a complete package together. He’s not the worst player on the team, but his high ERA and WHIP definitely put him as one of the most disappointing.

 

Main Photo Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

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