24 bold predictions for O's '24 campaign

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles will reach the postseason again in 2024.

That was the prediction I made in this space last week, and it’s a relatively safe one. Baltimore is coming off a 2023 campaign in which it won 101 games and captured the American League East title, so of course the club has a strong chance of returning to October.

This week, let’s forecast more of what could happen for the Orioles in the upcoming year. Here are 24 O’s predictions for ‘24.

1. The Orioles swing a January trade for a noteworthy starter
It hasn’t happened yet, but it makes too much sense for Baltimore to land the frontline starter it has been seeking by dealing from its glut of top position-player prospects.

2. No other major offseason moves are made
By acquiring a starter and signing Craig Kimbrel to fill in at closer, the O’s will be set. They should be content with their position-player core.

3. Heston Kjerstad is a Spring Training standout (again)
Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline slugs everywhere he goes, and Sarasota, Fla., is no exception. The 24-year-old will mash his way to an Opening Day roster spot.

4. Jackson Holliday makes his MLB debut on Opening Day
Baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect is going to be given an opportunity to break camp with the O’s. The 20-year-old infielder will do that and then debut March 28 vs. the Angels at Camden Yards.

5. Kyle Bradish makes his first Opening Day start
The 27-year-old right-hander was the Orioles’ No. 1 pitcher in 2023, when he recorded a 2.83 ERA and finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting. He’ll get the nod for Game 1 of ‘24.

6. Tyler Wells and DL Hall begin the season in the bullpen
The O’s rotation will initially consist of Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer and an offseason acquisition. But Wells will eventually end up in the starting mix.

7. Colton Cowser returns to the Majors in April/May -- and sticks around this time
Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect is better than he showed during his first 26-game MLB stint last year. The 23-year-old outfielder has a bright future.

8. The O’s send four to the All-Star Game for the second straight year
Let’s go with Adley Rutschman returning to the ASG and the trio of Gunnar Henderson, Rodriguez and Ryan Mountcastle making their Midsummer Classic debuts.

9. A major move occurs at the Trade Deadline
Baltimore will be a buyer and pull off some deal bigger than the Jack Flaherty trade it made at the '23 Deadline.

10. Mountcastle slugs 31 home runs
The 26-year-old first baseman stays healthy and posts his highest homer total since belting 33 as a rookie in 2021.

11. Rutschman records a career-high .866 OPS
The 25-year-old catcher is only getting better, and his upward trajectory will continue.

12. Rodriguez notches 205 strikeouts in breakout campaign
That 2.58 second-half era in ‘23 was a sign of what to expect from the 24-year-old righty. He’ll become the first O’s pitcher with 200-plus K’s since Erik Bedard fanned a club-record 221 in ‘07.

13. Jordan Westburg plays 135 games
Adam Frazier is gone, and Jorge Mateo and Ramón Urías are potential trade chips. Because of that, Westburg will be a near-everyday starter between second and third.

14. Joey Ortiz becomes a utility infielder of great value
The Orioles could feel comfortable moving Mateo and/or Urías because they have Ortiz (the club’s No. 6 prospect) and his 65-grade glove waiting in the wings.

15. Dillon Tate returns to form as impactful high-leverage reliever
Don’t forget how effective Tate was in 2022 (a 3.05 ERA in 67 appearances) before he missed all of '23 due to forearm/elbow injuries. The 29-year-old righty will be a key bullpen piece.

16. Kimbrel records 33 saves, his most since 2018
He won’t be Félix Bautista, but the 35-year-old will be an effective ninth-inning stopgap.

17. Henderson wins his first Gold Glove Award
It could be at shortstop, third base or utility. Wherever the 22-year-old lines up, he flashes the leather.

18. Austin Hays becomes a first-time Gold Glover, too
Finally, the 28-year-old outfielder will be recognized for his exceptional defense.

19. Henderson also finishes in the top three of AL MVP Award voting
The 2023 AL Rookie of the Year is poised to take another big step forward in ‘24. He should go from Most Valuable Oriole to legitimate AL Most Valuable Player contender.

20. Camden Yards attendance exceeds 2 million for the first time since 2017
After 1,936,798 fans came to O’s home games in ‘23, even more will come through the gates in ‘24, as local excitement for the Birds continues to grow.

21. By going 96-66, the Orioles finish second in the AL East
It’s challenging to win consecutive division titles in the AL East -- four teams have finished first over the past six seasons. Baltimore will still earn consecutive postseason berths for the first time since 1996 and ‘97.

22. The O’s advance past the AL Wild Card Series
Camden Yards will host a best-of-three Wild Card Series, and the No. 4-seeded Orioles will use that home-field advantage to win their first postseason series since the 2014 AL Division Series.

23. And they advance past the ALDS, too
Coming out of the Wild Card Series, the Orioles will stay hot and use their momentum to win the best-of-five ALDS and reach the AL Championship Series for the first time since '14.

24. However, their season ends in the ALCS
The Orioles will win the fourth World Series title in franchise history later this decade. But they won’t quite get there in 2024. Still, they’ll continue inching closer with another strong year that will provide even greater optimism for the future.