Major League Baseball and Louisville Slugger tonight announced that GUNNAR HENDERSON (utility) and ADLEY RUTSCHMAN (catcher) have been named recipients of the 2023 American League Silver Slugger Award, the top offensive award in Major League Baseball. This marks the first career Silver Slugger Award for both players. Henderson becomes the first Orioles rookie to win the award in club history and the AL’s second-ever winner from the utility spot since the position’s addition in 2022. Rutschman joins MICKEY TETTLETON (1989) as the only Orioles backstops to earn the honor. Outfielder ANTHONY SANTANDER was tabbed as a finalist but was not selected as a winner.

Henderson, 22, batted .255/.325/.489 (143-for-560) with 29 doubles, nine triples, 28 home runs, 100 runs scored, 82 RBI, 56 walks (1 IBB), and 10 stolen bases in 150 games (143 starts) during his rookie campaign. From July 1 through the end of the regular season, he ranked among all AL infielders in runs (1^st, 62), triples (2^nd, 6), extra-base hits (T-2^nd, 41), total bases (3^rd, 169), hits (T-3^rd, 88), RBI (4^th, 52), doubles (18, T-5^th), home runs (6^th, 17), and slugging percentage (7^th, .511). Henderson finished ahead of fellow AL finalists Brandon Drury (LAA), Whit Merrifield (TOR), and Isaac Paredes (TB).

Rutschman, 25, appeared in 154 games (149 starts), slashing .277/.374/.435 (163-for-588) with 31 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, 84 runs scored, 80 RBI, 92 walks (6 IBB), and one steal. He appeared in 110 games (104 starts) at catcher and 46 games (45 starts) as the designated hitter; his 687 plate appearances were 76 more than any other MLB player who appeared in more than half of his games at catcher. Rutschman led AL backstops in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, on-base percentage, OPS (.809), hits, doubles, walks, total bases (256), times on base (257), and game-winning RBI (10). The Portland, Ore., native established himself as one of the game’s top players in 2023, making his first All-Star team and participating in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Rutschman finished ahead of fellow AL finalists Salvador Perez (KC) and Cal Raleigh (SEA).

Baltimore was one of three MLB teams with multiple winners, along with Atlanta (Acuña, Jr., Olson, Riley) and Texas (Seager, Semien). Rutschman and Henderson become the fifth set of Orioles teammates to win the award in the same season, joining EDDIE MURRAY and CAL RIPKEN, JR. (1983 & 1984), Ripken, Jr. and Tettleton (1989), MELVIN MORA and MIGUEL TEJADA (2004), and CHRIS DAVIS, J.J. HARDY, and ADAM JONES (2013).

The Louisville Slugger Award winners are selected by a vote of MLB managers and coaches, who cast ballots for the players they determine to be the best offensive producers at each position in their respective league. Votes are based on a combination of offensive statistics including OBP, OPS, OPS+, home runs, hits, RBI, and batting average, as well as the managers’ and coaches’ general impressions of a player’s overall offensive value. Louisville Slugger has presented the Silver Slugger Awards annually since 1980.

The public has voted and now the 10 oriole chicks hatched at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s (NZCBI) Bird House have names! In June, Bird House keepers celebrated the arrival of seven orchard oriole chicks—the first of their species to hatch in human care—which hatched in the Bird Friendly Coffee Farm Aviary. That same month, three Baltimore oriole chicks hatched in the same exhibit, in a nearby tree. Both species are native to Maryland, and the Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland. Given the chicks’ significance and the species’ ties to the region, NZCBI partnered with Maryland Governor Wes Moore to name these special birds.

The winning names for the orchard oriole chicks are: 

• Charm – Baltimore’s nickname is Charm City
• Chessie – The Chesapeake Bay estuary borders both sides of Maryland
• Crabcake – Maryland’s favorite seafood dish
• Harriet – Marylander Harriet Tubman guided enslaved people to freedom as a conductor of the Underground Railroad
• Thurgood – Marylander Thurgood Marshall served as the Supreme Court’s first African American justice from 1967 to 1991
• Zappa – Famed musician Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore, Maryland
• Francis – Marylander Francis Scott Key authored “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States 

In choosing names for our three Baltimore oriole chicks, Governor Wes Moore was inspired by Maryland’s own Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles! The first chick was named in honor of “Mr. Oriole” himself, former third baseman and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. The second chick’s moniker honors former shortstop and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. Moore bestowed the name Adam Jones on the third chick, honoring the former outfielder and five-time MLB All-Star. 

Visit the new Bird House at the Zoo to see and learn more about these special birds and so many more!

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• RHP Jorge López has cleared outright waivers and elected free agency in lieu of accepting an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled LHP Bruce Zimmermann from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Designated RHP Jorge López for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2023, including shortstop JACKSON HOLLIDAY as the club’s top minor league player and right-handed pitcher CHAYCE McDERMOTT as the club’s top minor league pitcher. Norfolk Manager BUCK BRITTON and Area Scout DAVE JENNINGS will also be honored for their contributions to the organization. Jennings will be recognized in an on-field ceremony prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox tonight, with his award presented by Director of Draft Operations BRAD CIOLEK. With Triple-A Norfolk winning the International League, Holliday, McDermott, and Britton will be in Las Vegas for the Triple-A National Championship tonight and unable to attend.

Holliday, 19, slashed .323/.442/.499 (154-for-477) with 30 doubles, nine triples, 12 homers, 113 runs scored, 75 RBI, 101 walks, and 24 stolen bases in 125 regular season games between Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie, and Triple-A Norfolk. He led the minors in runs scored, becoming the first O’s minor leaguer since at least 2005 to accomplish the feat, and ranked among qualified full-season minor leaguers in on-base percentage (5^th) and walks (T-5^th). Holliday led the organization in batting average, on-base percentage, runs, triples, and walks while ranking among the leaders in hits (2^nd), OPS (3^rd, .941), slugging percentage (4^th), total bases (4^th, 238), and doubles (T-4^th). He represented the organization at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, won South Atlantic League and O’s Minor League Player of the Month in May, and was Player of the Week in the Carolina League for the period April 17-23 and in the South Atlantic League for the period May 15-21. Holliday was recently named the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year, marking the second straight year an Oriole earned the honor (Gunnar Henderson). Baltimore selected him No. 1 overall in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Stillwater High School (OK). He is the top-ranked MLB prospect by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and ESPN.

McDermott, 25, enjoyed his first full season in the organization, going 8-8 with one save and a 3.10 ERA (41 ER/119.0 IP) with 69 hits, 44 total runs, nine home runs, five hit batters, 68 walks, and 152 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .167 average (69-for-413) in 26 games (22 starts) between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He led all qualified full-season minor leaguers in opponent average while ranking among O’s organizational leaders in strikeouts (2^nd), ERA (2^nd), wins (T-2^nd), starts (3^rd), innings (4^th), and WHIP (3^rd, 1.15). McDermott was a two-time International League Pitcher of the Week, earning the honor in back-to-back periods from July 24-30 and July 31-August 6, and won the organization’s Pitcher of the Month in August. He was acquired by the Orioles at last year’s trade deadline as part of a three-team trade with Houston and Tampa Bay after being selected by the Astros in the fourth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Ball State University (IN). He is currently ranked as the No. 10 O’s prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 14 Orioles prospect by Baseball America.

Britton has been named the winner of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award, named for the late Orioles coach and manager who is widely regarded as the architect of “The Oriole Way.” Each year, a minor league staff member who exemplifies Ripken’s qualities as an instructor is recognized with the award. Britton led the Tides to the International League Championship, beating Durham 2-1 in the best-of-three series, and to the best record in the league at 90-59 (.604) while setting the franchise record for wins in a season. He helped guide six players to their MLB debuts this season, and in total, 31 different players appeared on both Baltimore’s and Norfolk’s rosters in 2023. Britton just completed his second year as the Triple-A manager and sixth as a coach or manager in the O’s system after enjoying a nine-year playing career, including his first seven in the Orioles organization. He also earned the honor in 2021 when he was the manager with Double-A Bowie and becomes the third multi-time recipient since the award’s inception in 2003, joining Mike Griffin (2009-10) and the late Ron Johnson (2015, 2018).

Jennings was named the Jim Russo Scout of the Year, named in honor of the man who spent 33 years in various scouting capacities with the Orioles beginning with their move from St. Louis in 1954. Jennings has been in the organization since 2002, proving to be an important member of the scouting operations as he patrols Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Some of his recent signees include current Major Leaguers GUNNAR HENDERSON (John T. Morgan Academy, Ala.) and JORDAN WESTBURG (Mississippi State), current minor leaguers HUDSON HASKIN (Tulane, La.), REED TRIMBLE (Southern Mississippi), and COLLIN BURNS (Tulane, La.), as well as former first-round selections KEVIN GAUSMAN (2012, Louisiana State University), MATT WIETERS (2007, Georgia Tech), and NICK MARKAKIS (2003, Young Harris College, Ga.).

he Orioles today announced that infielder GUNNAR HENDERSON has been voted the winner of the 2023 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. He will be recognized for his accomplishments during an on-field ceremony prior to tonight’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

Henderson becomes the fourth rookie to be named the winner of the award since its inception in 1954, joining right-handed pitchers GREGG OLSON in 1989 and RODRIGO LÓPEZ in 2002, as well as catcher ADLEY RUTSCHMAN in 2022.

He enters play today slashing .257/.326/.492 (142-for-553) with 28 doubles, nine triples, 28 home runs, 99 runs scored, 82 RBI, 55 walks, 272 total bases, 10 stolen bases, and an .818 OPS in 148 games. He leads the O’s in runs, surpassing CAL RIPKEN, JR’s. mark of 90 in 1982 for the most in a rookie season in O’s history. He is set to become the fourth rookie to lead the Orioles in runs, joining Ripken, Jr., WILLIE TASBY (1959, 69), and TITO FRANCONA (1956, 62). He is the third rookie in O's history to record 25+ doubles and 25+ home runs, joining Ripken, Jr. and EDDIE MURRAY (1977), who both won American League Rookie of the Year. His 28 homers are tied with Ripken, Jr. for the second-most by a rookie in a season in O's history, behind only RYAN MOUNTCASTLE (33 in 2021), and his 65 extra-base hits are tied with Ripken, Jr. for the most in a rookie season in O's history. He is the first rookie in team history with 20+ doubles, 5+ triples, 20+ homers, and 10+ stolen bases, and the 20^th rookie in Major League Baseball history with such a stat line, joining Arizona's Corbin Carroll this year, and the first in the AL since Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. in 2022.

The Alabama native leads the Orioles and MLB rookies in Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement (bWAR) with 6.1, which ranks third among all AL hitters. That is currently the best bWAR by a rookie in Orioles history, surpassing Rutschman’s mark of 5.2. He leads AL rookies and ranks second on the O’s in FanGraphs’ Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) with 4.7, which is the third-best mark by a rookie in O’s history, trailing Rutschman and BOBBY GRICH (1972) with 5.4. Henderson also leads the Orioles in triples, ranks tied for the lead in home runs, second in extra-base hits and RBI, tied for second in walks, third in games played, and fourth in hits and stolen bases. Among qualified Orioles batters, he leads the team in slugging and OPS and ranks second in on-base percentage.

Henderson paces MLB rookies in home runs and ranks tied for the lead in extra-base hits. He leads AL rookies in runs, RBI, total bases, triples, and game-winning RBI (10), while ranking among AL rookie leaders in hits (2^nd), doubles (2^nd), and walks (4^th). According to STATS, he leads qualified AL rookies in slugging percentage while ranking among the leaders in OPS (2^nd) and on-base percentage (4^th).

The Orioles announced a renewed partnership with GOVERNOR WES MOORE, the State of Maryland, and the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA). This agreement secures 30 more years of the Orioles at their iconic home of Camden Yards and brings with it the opportunity to reimagine the land surrounding the ballpark, marking private sector investment and development as the centerpieces to revitalize Downtown Baltimore. Additionally, Camden Yards will receive funds to modernize and upgrade much-needed areas of operation. 

This new agreement is the culmination of a complex and innovative vision that began with the restructuring of the Orioles Organization.

“We had three goals in 2019 when we organized the Orioles management team,” said Orioles Chair and Managing Partner JOHN ANGELOS. “We set out to remake the Club to be a consistently competitive winner on the field, and to create a strong business and fiscal foundation to be able to do so at the highest level to sustain that competitiveness – and to completely reinvent and extend the Orioles’ partnership with the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland for the next three decades to ensure that the O’s would be in Baltimore up to and through our 100^th anniversary. We have been very fortunate that we have achieved all of these goals.” 

The partnership with the State of Maryland includes a 99-year ground lease for select areas around the Ballpark north of Lee Street, including the B&O Warehouse and Camden Station, giving way to more private investment opportunities and spurring economic development. Also included in the deal is the changing of hands for operations and maintenance responsibilities from the MSA to the Orioles Organization.

“I could not be more thrilled to spend decades watching the Orioles win titles in Baltimore,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This deal is not only a good use of state resources but will also drive economic growth in downtown and across the city. Today, we take a big step toward a more vibrant and thriving Baltimore–with good-paying jobs, a diversified economy, and opportunity for all. This deal is good for the city and the state, and I’m grateful for the partnership that got us to this day. The Baltimore renaissance is here."

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated INF Ryan Mountcastle from the 10-day Injured List (left AC joint inflammation).
• Optioned OF Ryan McKenna to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Tyler Wells from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned RHP Mike Baumann to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated LHP John Means from the 60-day Injured List (left elbow UCL surgery). He will start tonight’s game.
• Optioned RHP Joey Krehbiel to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles have made the following roster move: 

• RHP Austin Voth has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed RHP Jorge López off waivers from the Miami Marlins. He has not yet reported.
• Designated RHP Logan Gillaspie for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles’ farm system has retained its spot at the top in the latest midseason rankings by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline. This marks the second straight year that the Orioles have been ranked as the best farm system in baseball by these three outlets.

“The continued recognition of our farm system is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our scouting, coaching, player care, and analytics staff members, as well as the steadfast support and investment from our partnership group,” said MIKE ELIAS, Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager. “To maintain the No. 1 ranking despite graduating so many elite prospects to the majors speaks to the depth and talent within this organization, which we expect will continue to deliver impact players to Baltimore for years to come.”

In a span of less than five years, the Orioles took a farm system that was ranked No. 30 by ESPN in 2019 to one that has received back-to-back No. 1 rankings by the same publication. According to ESPN, the Orioles’ farm system valuation has increased by more than $160 million over the past three years. The Orioles are also the first organization to rank No. 1 in five straight MLB Pipeline farm system rankings.

“The work that Mike, Sig, Brandon, and the entire front office team have done since ushering in a new era of Orioles baseball for the 2019 season has positioned the Orioles to consistently compete in the coming years and help draw fans and visitors back downtown,” said JOHN ANGELOS, Orioles Chair and Managing Partner.

Since 2005, 16 of Baseball America’s 17 top farm systems made the playoffs within two years of their designation. The Orioles earned their first Baseball America No. 1 farm system ranking last year, and currently own the best record in the American League.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated RHP Austin Voth from the 60-day Injured List (right elbow discomfort).
• Optioned RHP Mike Baumann to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Transferred LHP Keegan Akin to the 60-day Injured List with lower back discomfort.

The Orioles have made the following roster move: 

• Reinstated RHP Mychal Givens from the 60-day Injured List (right shoulder inflammation) and designated him for assignment.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Placed LHP Danny Coulombe on the 15-day Injured List with left biceps tendonitis, retroactive to August 9.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Activated RHP Jack Flaherty. He will wear No. 15.
• Optioned RHP Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher JACK FLAHERTY from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for left-handed pitcher DREW ROM, minor league infielder CÉSAR PRIETO, and minor league right-handed pitcher ZACK SHOWALTER.

Flaherty, 27, is 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA (54 ER/109.2 IP),116 hits, 56 total runs, 10 home runs, 54 walks, eight hit batters, and 106 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Cardinals this season. In his last 13 starts since May 9, he is 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA (30 ER/75.1 IP) and 70 strikeouts. Flaherty has spent his entire career with St. Louis after being selected in the first round (No. 34 overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, Calif. Since making his MLB debut in 2017, he has more strikeouts (706) than any other Cardinal while throwing the third-most innings (633.0) during that time. Flaherty has not yet reported.

Rom, 23, has gone 7-6 with a 5.34 ERA (51 ER/86.0 IP) and 100 strikeouts to 46 walks in 19 games (18 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk this season. He was recalled by the Orioles on May 9, but did not appear in a game prior to being optioned to the Tides on May 11. Rom had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022. He was ranked as the No. 18 Orioles prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rom was selected by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky.

Prieto, 24, has slashed .349/.393/.475 (117-for-335) with 20 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 49 runs scored, 49 RBI, 23 walks, and seven stolen bases in 85 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season. He made his Triple-A debut with the Tides on June 21. He was ranked as the No. 16 prospect in Baltimore’s system, according to MLB Pipeline. A native of Abreus, Cuba, Prieto was signed by the Orioles as an international free agent on January 15, 2022.

Showalter, 19, has gone 0-2 with a 2.37 ERA (8 ER/30.1 IP) with 41 strikeouts to 14 walks in nine games (eight starts) between the Florida Complex League (FCL) Orioles and Single-A Delmarva this season. A native of Tampa, Fla., Showalter was selected by the Orioles in the 11^th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Wesley Chapel High School in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Acquired minor league RHP Logan Rinehart from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RHP Eduard Bazardo.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of RHP Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 52.
• Optioned RHP Tyler Wells to Double-A Bowie after yesterday’s game.
• Designated RHP Eduard Bazardo for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.