Kyle Bradish just won a game without pitching a single pitch.
The referee’s decision allowing Bradish to receive a $3.55 million salary for the 2026 season — instead of the $2.875 million proposed by the Orioles — might seem like a minor financial detail at first glance. But in Baltimore’s current context, it means much more. It’s not just a numerical ruling. It’s an implicit recognition that, when healthy, Bradish is a pitcher the Orioles can’t afford to underestimate.
The last two seasons have been difficult for the 28-year-old right-hander. Recurring injuries have limited him to just 14 MLB appearances in two years, far too few to maintain the ace image that once made the AL East wary. But if someone only looks at the number of appearances to value Bradish, they’ll miss the most important part of the story: his pitching quality.
Eno Sarris of The Athletic recently released the Stuff+ ranking — a metric that assesses the pure “damage” of the pitch, separate from ERA and defensive context. And Bradish still appears in the notable group. That’s no coincidence. After Tommy John, his strikeout didn’t disappear. In 2025, Bradish K 47 batters in 32 innings. In 2024, the number was 53 strikeouts in 39 innings. That’s not the sign of a pitcher who’s just a name.
Those who witnessed Bradish in 2023 understand why the Orioles had to pay extra. That season, he played 30 times, threw 169 innings, had an ERA of 2.83, and 168 strikeouts — a season that truly embodied a frontline starter. Not an ace relying on the system, but someone who created pressure on opponents with raw stuff.
The 2025 trial is small — just six starts — but his 2.53 ERA and the way he controls the game feel familiar. Not a fleeting burst of energy, but the rhythm of a pitcher who knows what he’s doing. For the Orioles, it’s a timely glimmer of hope, especially as they’re still exploring the market for rotation after missing out on Framber Valdez.
And here’s the most sensitive point: expectations.
If Bradish stays healthy throughout 2026, his $3.55 million salary could be one of the biggest bargains in the league. A pitcher with top-tier Stuff+, consistent strikeout ability, and experience carrying workloads — all at a much lower cost than the market average. But if injuries return, this decision will be a symbolic victory.
The Orioles understand that. Perhaps that’s why they’re still looking for more starters, even though Bradish gives them reason to believe. Internally, he could be seen as a secret weapon — not to be expected of, but enough to change the way rotations are built.
Arbitration is over. So is the numbers. Now, the only question remaining for Kyle Bradish and Baltimore is the old but never easy one: can that kind of raw stuff stay on the mound long enough to truly change the season?
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