No, the Orioles haven’t had the same “it” that they did in 2023, when they unexpectedly won 101 games and the AL East. The rotation is thin, the bullpen random, the offense spotty. But it’s worth highlighting one thing on the Orioles that is better in 2024 than in 2023: Anthony Santander.
Santander currently has hit 38 home runs, third in MLB behind only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, and just ahead of Marcell Ozuna and Juan Soto. Between them, those four players have 17 All-Star selections. It’s distinguished company.
Tony Taters has never had such hype around his name, and he never was a golden boy at age 19 like Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson.