Opening Day is finally here.

It’s a new era of Orioles baseball with skipper Craig Albernaz at the helm and franchise cornerstone Pete Alonso manning first base. With a reloaded starting rotation, a core of position players primed for a bounceback and top prospects ready to contribute, the O’s are hopeful for a season of contention.

This week, on “The Bird’s Nest,” Annie Klaff and I handed out some season superlatives. For the full list of a dozen awards, be sure to watch the full episode here: https://masn.me/i9ne902p

Bounceback Year 

Brendan’s Pick – Yennier Cano 

Annie’s Pick – Tyler O’Neill (Honorable mention – Zach Eflin)

A Cano that keeps the ball in the strike zone is a dangerous thing. During his 2023 All-Star campaign, the reliever had a zone rate of close to 51 percent, according to FanGraphs. That number dipped during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but showed a resurgence this spring. If he can land all of his pitches in the zone, Cano could be back to his old self.

O’Neill just looks different. Noticeably slimmed down, which is saying something given his normal physique, the outfielder seems primed for a bounceback. Don’t forget, he’s not far removed from a 31-home-run season in Boston.

X-Factors 

Brendan’s Pick(s) – Adley Rutschman and Colton Cowser

Annie’s Pick – Coby Mayo

Rutschman and Cowser have All-Star potential. The former is already a two-time All-Star, and a bounceback season massively raises the team’s ceiling. The same can be said for Cowser, who was towards the top of the O’s home run leaderboard in 2025 despite playing just 92 games. If the duo can complement the expected production of big names like Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso, Baltimore’s offense could be one of the best in the game.

Mayo, back at his natural position of third base, has a chance to become a fixture in the Orioles’ everyday lineup. A former top prospect in baseball in his own right, Mayo has always flashed big potential with the bat. Now, he has a chance to showcase it on a regular basis.

Best Starting Pitcher 

Brendan’s Pick – Kyle Bradish 

Annie’s Pick – Shane Baz

Bradish’s stuff is just too good. We saw it in 2023, a season in which he finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting, and we even saw it in his brief stint in the big leagues a season ago. Assuming the righty can start over 20 games this season, which is the expectation, there’s no reason to believe that he can’t be the best starter on the team, and one of the best in the league.

Baz’s upside is undeniable. The former No. 12 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, flashes some outstanding stuff, including a fastball that can touch triple digits. Last season, the righty completed his first fully-healthy season, but was hindered, in large part, by his home ballpark. Now, with the Orioles, Baz has a chance to find a marriage of his health and ability.

Most Valuable Prospect 

Brendan’s Pick – Ike Irish 

Annie’s Pick(s) – Vance Honeycutt and Wehiwa Aloy

Annie and I pride ourselves on having some of the best draft coverage around Baltimore. That being said, we didn’t even consider the fact that Irish could fall to the Orioles’ first draft selection in 2025. The Auburn product seemed to be a consensus top-10 pick before falling to the O’s selection at No. 19. The ability is real, and with a smooth swing that doesn’t waste any motion, Irish could fly through the minor league system.

Honeycutt showed his massive potential in spring training with four home runs in his first four at-bats. That’s the kind of confidence boost that could push the former first-rounder to greater heights than a disappointing 2025. All Aloy did last year was win the Golden Spikes Award, given to the best college baseball player in the nation. That’s some upside.

Most Valuable Oriole 

Brendan’s Pick – Gunnar Henderson 

Annie’s Pick – Gunnar Henderson

This one is pretty simple. Henderson is a true five-tool player, capable of hitting 30 home runs, stealing 30 bases and playing great defense at one of the most important positions on the diamond. The superstar put up a season with over 9.0 bWAR just two years ago. That’s a level that few in the game can match.