The Orioles' recent string of injuries has cast a shadow over their season, particularly for their relief pitchers. Keegan Akin, Ryan Helsley, and Colin Selby are all facing significant setbacks, with Akin and Helsley already on the injured list for the second time this season. This situation raises several questions about the team's strategy and the players' futures.
Akin, a 31-year-old left-hander, has struggled with a groin strain and an elbow issue, leading to a 5.68 ERA and a diminished strikeout rate. His underperformance and injury concerns are likely to keep him off the trade market, even if the Orioles decide to sell at the deadline. This is a stark contrast to his previous two seasons, where he had a combined 3.36 ERA and 27% strikeout percentage. The fact that Akin is in his final year of arbitration and playing on a $2.975MM salary adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Helsley, a hard-throwing right-hander, is sidelined by an elbow issue for the second time this year. His two-year, $28MM free agent contract hasn't gotten out to a great start, with injuries limiting him to 15 1/3 innings of nine-run ball. Despite his 31% strikeout rate, Helsley has also walked nine batters and thrown three wild pitches. The fact that he has a $14MM player option for next season makes his situation even more intriguing. If he's able to make a quick return and have an excellent finish to the season, he might lock in that salary, but if not, things could change.
Selby, a right-hander, has been on the 60-day injured list all season with a shoulder injury. General manager Mike Elias has said that the shoulder issues are still ongoing and made it unlikely that Selby will be back anytime soon. This raises a deeper question about the team's long-term plans for Selby, who is in his second full season with the Orioles after being acquired from Kansas City in a July 2024 DFA trade.
In one bit of non-playing news, the Orioles have hired former big leaguer Ross Detwiler as a roving pitching instructor in the upper minors. Detwiler replaces Thomas Eshelman, who accepted the pitching coach job at TCU over the weekend. The 40-year-old Detwiler pitched parts of 14 seasons in the big leagues between 2007-22, but the Orioles were not among the 10 teams for which he suited up at the MLB level. The bulk of his career was spent with the Nationals, where he pitched to a 4.56 ERA across 752 innings.
In my opinion, the Orioles' situation is a stark reminder of the delicate balance between talent and health in professional sports. While the team's injuries are certainly a setback, they also present an opportunity for the organization to reassess its strategy and make informed decisions about the future. The fact that the Orioles are willing to trade players like Bryan Baker for competitive balance draft choices suggests that they are open to making changes, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to turn things around in time to make a meaningful impact this season.
