The voting for Most Valuable Oriole wraps up next week, with an announcement coming on the final homestand. The ballots leave space for three names, with tabulations done on a 5-3-1 basis. Only players currently in the organization are eligible.

Apologies to Jake Rogers.

The award winner is selected through balloting done by writers and broadcasters who cover the Orioles on a regular basis. We can debate how “regular” some of them are, but life is short and the visual just hit me. Let’s move on.

There have been four ties, and no award was given in 1994 because of the strike. Fourteen players have been honored multiple times: Eddie Murray (seven), Cal Ripken, Jr. (four), Brooks Robinson (four), Adam Jones (three), Rafael Palmeiro (three), Frank Robinson (three), Ken Singleton (three), and Chris Davis, Gunnar Henderson, Stu Miller, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada (two).

Trevor Rogers won it last season to break Henderson’s streak. Henderson was the first back-to-back winner since Jones in 2011-12.

Spoilers are forbidden and I don’t have inside information on this year’s voting except for my own choices, but it would be an upset of Super Bowl III or Buster Douglas proportions if first baseman Pete Alonso is denied.

Alonso went into the weekend series in Toronto leading the Orioles in pretty much every offensive category, and while he’s committed a few costly errors at first base, his overall play defensively has far exceeded his reputation and career dWAR.

But back to his bat. Alonso hasn’t missed a game and ranked first yesterday in hits (147), home runs (34), RBIs (97), average among qualified players (.268), OPS (.861), on-base percentage (.363) and walks (74) – the last two among current Orioles. Taylor Ward was first but he’s in Seattle. Alonso also leads in fWAR (3.9) and bWAR (4.0).

Alonso also began last night leading the American League in RBIs and his name is going to appear on some 10-player ballots for Most Valuable Player. In that case, it seems like MVO should be a lock.

I say this while knowing that Dylan Carlson and Rougned Odor received votes in the past. Not for first place, but top three was ridiculous.

If first place seems easy, second and third are wide open for discussion.

Rico Garcia and Blaze Alexander were barreling toward high vote totals and still could receive them, but Garcia’s effectiveness dipped – he set the bar so high that it seemed almost inevitable – and Alexander is on the injured list for a second time. He’s appeared in only 93 games. But you can make an argument for both.

The award is for “outstanding” and not “valuable,” which should be taken into consideration. Garcia was in rescue mode in the bullpen when the Orioles needed someone to get outs and saves. He was unhittable. That’s valuable. Alexander was arguably the team’s best hitter before the pitch that fractured his left hand, going from a perceived utility role to playing every day, and at six positions. Also valuable.

But yeah, pretty outstanding, too.

Pitchers Brandon Young, Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish also should be under consideration. Young is 9-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 25 starts and the Orioles were 18-5 in his outings before back-to-back losses – a record more important than his own. His value came from perhaps being the Orioles’ best starter for a while Rogers, Bradish and Shane Baz had their struggles and Dean Kremer and Chris Bassitt were injured. Rogers went on the IL with the flu. Zach Eflin blew out his elbow in his first start.

Also, Young was raised on classic rock and has a tattoo of the four symbols from Led Zeppelin IV, which automatically thrusts him into the top three. I’ll fight you.

Rogers is back to pitching like the 2025 version who was MVO and received a vote on the Cy Young ballot (he’s thanked me.) He’s posted a 4.15 ERA in 27 starts, but it’s 3.67 since the break and he’s allowed three runs with no walks and 17 strikeouts this month in 14 innings. His 3.6 fWAR ranked second on the team last night.

Shane Baz was third at 3.3, though I admittedly don’t obsess over that stat nearly as much as some others. For instance, his bWAR is 1.6. Rogers’ is 1.7.

Baz has 15 losses, but who cares? His run support was worst in the majors before his last start, when the Orioles scored eight times in the third inning. His ERA was 3.91 before he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings. He’s durable enough to make a team-leading 29 starts this season, which should have the team carrying him on its shoulders. He also threw his first career complete game this season.

Bradish might be wilting down the stretch after returning from elbow-reconstructive surgery, but his ERA is 3.91 in 28 starts.

Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo were second on the team with 22 home runs going into last night. Mayo was second in RBIs with 59, followed by Henderson with 57. Henderson led in doubles with 25, but he also was slashing .219/.303/.395.

Mayo hit his third straight homer off a right-hander last night and broke the tie with Henderson.

Fans are getting more excited about Mayo, who used to just destroy left-handers, while wondering again what’s wrong with Henderson, even after his two-hit night in Toronto.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was a huge pickup but hasn’t played in enough games to warrant consideration. He had two more hits last night. Yeah, he’s tempting for the third spot.

Colton Cowser has a couple walk-off homers and one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history. He’s the best glove in the outfield. But he was batting .213/.306/.364 before last night’s two-run double.

Samuel Basallo’s 17 homers ranked fourth on the team, but he was batting .227/.296/.415. So, no.