Elias believes Orioles can make playoffs in 2023
Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias thinks his club is poised to build on last year's surprising success.
"We are very serious about getting into the playoffs," Elias said Sunday on MLB Network Radio.
"Despite the difficulties in our division, we think we’ve got a real good shot to get into the postseason this year. We almost got in last year. The time is now to start to tap into the depth in our farm system."
The Orioles were arguably the biggest shock in baseball last season, finishing with an 83-79 record - their first winning campaign since 2016.
Baltimore is loaded with young talent and a deep farm system, including eight players on MLB Pipeline's recently released top-100 list.
| Player | Position | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Gunnar Henderson | IF | 1 |
| Grayson Rodriguez | SP | 7 |
| Jackson Holliday | SS | 12 |
| Colton Cowser | OF | 40 |
| Jordan Westburg | IF | 74 |
| Heston Kjerstad | OF | 80 |
| DL Hall | SP | 97 |
| Joey Ortiz | SS | 99 |
The Orioles haven't added a marquee name this offseason, but they brought in veterans like Adam Frazier and James McCann while also bolstering their rotation with the acquisitions of Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin.
Elias also told MLB Network Radio's Jim Bowden he expects top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez to begin the season in the club's starting rotation. The 23-year-old right-hander, one of the game's most exciting young arms, showcased his skills at Triple-A last campaign, posting a 2.20 ERA with 97 strikeouts across 69 2/3 innings.