BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:

2023 OPENING DAY: The Baltimore Orioles begin their 70th season this afternoon against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The O’s are playing the Red Sox on Opening Day for the third time in the last four seasons, along with 2021 (W, 3-0) and 2020 (L, 13-2); both of those games took place in Boston.

It is the fifth time that the O’s have opened their season at Fenway Park (2021, 2020, 1966, and 1956).

Baltimore and Boston have squared off on Opening Day 10 times since 1954, with the Orioles holding a 7-3 advantage (5-1 in Baltimore and 2-2 at Boston).

OPENING ACT: The Orioles are 44-25 overall and 12-12 on the road on Opening Day in the franchise’s history (since 1954)…Baltimore has won nine of their last 12 Opening Days, including wins in eight straight season openers from 2011-18.

GIBBY ON THE BUMP: Kyle Gibson is scheduled to become the 42nd Opening Day starter in Orioles history (since 1954) and the second O’s pitcher in the last four seasons to make his Baltimore debut with a start on Opening Day, joining Tommy Milone (2020)… Marks the second career Opening Day start for the 2021 American League All-Star, who toed the rubber for Texas in the 2021 opener…Dean Kremer and Cole Irvin are set to follow Gibson in the rotation on Saturday and Sunday in Boston.

SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON: The Orioles went 9-10 against the Red Sox last year,
including 5-4 at home and 4-6 at Fenway Park…The season series was not decided
until the final game on September 29 in Boston.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Orioles open the 2023 season with 13 pitchers and 13
position players on the active roster…Six players have made their first career Opening
Day roster: Kyle Bradish, Logan Gillaspie, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Kyle
Stowers, and Terrin Vavra…Fifteen of the 26 players were on Baltimore’s Opening Day
roster in 2022, while four players will be making their O’s debut: Danny Coulombe,
Adam Frazier, Kyle Gibson, and Cole Irvin…James McCann begins the season on the
10-day Injured List, Mychal Givens and Dillon Tate begin the year on the 15-day Injured
List, and John Means begins the year on the 60-day Injured List.

THE SKIPPER: Manager Brandon Hyde returns for his fifth season…In 2022, he led the O’s to an 83-79 record, his first winning season as manager and the club’s first winning campaign since 2016…He was named the Baseball America MLB Manager of the Year and was voted the Sporting News American League Manager of the Year by fellow AL managers…He finished second in voting for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) American League Manager of the Year award…Hyde was named the 20th manager in Orioles history on December 14, 2018.

COACHING STAFF: The Orioles announced their 2023 Major League Coaching Staff on November 8, 2022…The club named Cody Asche (ASH-ee) Offensive Strategy Coach…Ryan Klimek (KLIM-ick) enters his first full season on the Major League Staff as Pitching Strategy Coach…All other coaches remain in their same positions: Matt Borgschulte (BORG-shult-ee) and Ryan Fuller as Co-Hitting Coaches, Tim Cossins as Major League Field Coordinator/Catching Instructor, Fredi González as Bench Coach, José Hernández as Major League Coach, Darren Holmes as Assistant Pitching Coach, Chris Holt as Pitching Coach/Director of Pitching, Tony Mansolino as Third Base Coach, and Anthony Sanders as First Base Coach.

NEW NUMBER, WHO DIS?: Several members of the 2022 Orioles team will have new jersey numbers for the 2023 season: Kyle Bradish (No. 56 in 2022) is now No. 39…Kyle Stowers switches from No. 83 to No. 28…Terrin Vavra switches from No. 77 to No. 23…Additionally, Offensive Strategy Coach Cody Asche will wear No. 61 after wearing No. 63 in Spring Training.

RISING TIDE: The Orioles are ranked as the No. 1 farm system by MLB Pipeline…Marks the fourth consecutive time between the preseason and midseason lists that the O’s are in the top spot…Since Pipeline began ranking systems in 2015, only one other organization has claimed the top spot four times in a row, and that was the Padres (2018 pre/mid, 2019 pre/mid)…Baltimore is also ranked as the No. 1 farm system by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, as well as in Baseball America’s preseason rankings for the first time since the publication began their Organizational Talent Rankings in 1984… The Orioles have nine prospects in ESPN’s Top 100 (see chart at right), eight in the Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline rankings, and six according to FanGraphs…Gunnar Henderson enters the season as the No. 1 overall prospect by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN, FanGraphs, and MLB Pipeline.

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE RECAP: The Orioles went 16-13-3 in Spring Training, including 10-4-3 at Ed Smith Stadium and 6-9-0 on the road, and finished in fourth place in the Grapefruit League standings…The O’s drew 100,009 fans in 17 dates at Ed Smith Stadium this spring, including three sellout crowds…Marked Baltimore’s first spring with a winning record since 2020 (10-9-3).

2022 IN REVIEW: The Orioles completed the 2022 season with an 83-79 record, finishing in fourth place in the AL East…The O’s secured a winning season for the first time since 2016 (89-73)…The Birds eclipsed their win total from each of the previous four full seasons: 2021 (52-110), 2019 (54-108), 2018 (47-115), and 2017 (75-87)… According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 2022 Orioles are the first team since 1900 to win at least 77 games in a season after losing 110+ games the previous year and only the third team in MLB history to finish with a .500-or-better record after losing 110+ games the prior campaign, joining the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos (39-111 in 1898 to 84-67) and the 1890 Louisville Colonels (27-111 in 1889 to 87-43)…The O’s are the first team in MLB history to win more than 70 games after finishing each of the previous three full seasons (150+ G) with 100+ losses.

STARTING PITCHER

48 KYLE GIBSON RHP

QUICK HITS: Gibson is scheduled to become the 42nd Opening Day starter in Orioles history (since 1954) and the second O’s pitcher in the last four seasons to make his Baltimore debut with a start on Opening Day, joining LHP Tommy Milone (2020)…Marks the second career Opening Day start for the 2021 American League All-Star, who toed the rubber for Texas in the 2021 opener…In 261 career starts, Gibson has pitched to an 89-90 record with a 4.50 ERA (747 ER/1494.1 IP)…The O’s signed Gibson to a one-year contract on December 5, 2022…He has spent time with the Twins, Rangers, and Phillies across 10 Major League seasons.

AGAINST BOSTON: Today will mark Gibson’s ninth career start against the Red Sox; he’s gone 3-4 with a 3.38 ERA (19 ER/50.2 IP) in his first eight career starts against Boston… Opening Day will be his fifth career start at Fenway Park, where he’s gone 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA (5 ER/28.2 IP) and 23 strikeouts.

AGAINST THE AL EAST:In 54 career games (53 GS) against the AL East, Gibson has gone 21-19 with a 4.56 ERA (155 ER/306.0 IP) and 245 strikeouts…Has gone 11-7 with a 4.13 ERA (63 ER/137.1 IP) and 113 strikeouts in 24 road starts against the division…Made only one start against an AL East opponent in 2022, on September 20 vs. Toronto.

DAY ‘N’ NITE: Pitched to a 3-3 record with a 4.79 ERA (41 ER/77.0 IP) and 68 strikeouts in 14 day games in 2022, compared to a 7-5 record with a 5.26 ERA (53 ER/90.2 IP) in 17 night games.

HOME AND ON THE ROAD: In 18 home starts in 2022, Gibson went 7-4 with a 4.57 ERA (52 ER/102.1 IP) and 80 strikeouts, versus 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA (42 ER/65.1 IP) and 64 strikeouts in 13 road starts.

GIBBY, THE GIVER: Gibson is a two-time nominee for the distinguished Roberto Clemente Award (2022 & 2019)…While with the Phillies, he donated to Philabundance, a nonprofit food bank in Philadelphia, and Cradles for Crayons…He also created a Philly Fantasy Football League in support of Help One Now, an organization that supports families in developing countries strike out extreme poverty…Gibson is the Vice President of the Big League Impact, a nonprofit founded in 2013 by Roberto Clemente Award winner Adam Wainwright (2020) to help people meet basic human needs, including food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education…He was the recipient of the 2017 Carl R. Pohlad Community Service Award selected by the Twins Community Fund Board of Directors.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA (94 ER/167.2 IP) in 31 starts with the Phillies, the fifth time in his career making at least 30 starts in a season…Made his Phillies debut on April 9 vs. Oakland (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 10 K)…Made his 250th career start on 7/27 vs. Atlanta… Retired the first 18 batters he faced on 8/5 vs. Washington over eight innings, the longest perfect game bid of his career…Struck out 11 batters on 8/16 at Cincinnati, his second double-digit strikeout game of the season, the most in his career…Gibson’s final nine starts averaged 10.37 K/9…Had a career-best 3.00 K/BB ratio (144 K/48 BB).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:Appeared on his fifth career Postseason roster in 2022 with the Phillies and made his World Series debut in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park, working 1.0 scoreless inning out of the bullpen with one hit and one strikeout in Philadelphia’s 7-0 loss to the Houston Astros…In two relief appearances during the 2022 Postseason, he worked 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

2023 SPRING TRAINING: Gibson went 2-0 in Spring Training with a 3.86 ERA (8 ER/18.2 IP) and 15 strikeouts to just one walk in five Grapefruit League starts…His one walk issued is tied for his fewest in a Spring Training season in his career (2018)…Attended his 11th Major League Spring Training.

BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:

FOR THE 123RD TIME: Boston begins its 123rd AL season today…The Red Sox are 59-62-1 all-time on Opening Day (excluding G2 of doubleheaders in 1903, 1948, and 1982). This is the 45th time that the Red Sox have opened the regular season at home (25-19), including the 42nd at Fenway Park (22-19). The Sox have begun the season at home in 3 of the last 4 years (2020, ‘21, ‘23), after doing so in only 4 of the previous 24 years from 1996-2019 (2002, ‘09, ‘10, ‘17).

AT THE HELM: Alex Cora returns for his 5th season as manager of the Red Sox (2018-19, ‘21-23)…He has led the Sox to a 362-286 (.559) record, the 3rd-highest win percentage in franchise history (min. 500 games managed). Cora ranks 9th in Red Sox history in managerial wins (see table on right).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: In the last 22 seasons (2001-22), teams that go on to win the World Series are 11-11 on Opening Day…In 3 of their last 4 World Series seasons, the Red Sox lost on Opening Day (2004, ‘07, ‘18).

SOX & O’S: This will be the 3rd time in the last 4 years the Red Sox open their regular season against the Orioles, the 14th time overall (6-7 in those games). This is the 5th time the Sox have opened a season vs. BAL at home (also 1956, ‘66, 2020, ‘21).

OPENING ACT: Corey Kluber is making his 6th career Opening Day start (also 2015-19 with CLE)…In the last 10 years (2014-23), the only pitchers with more Opening Day starts are Madison Bumgarner (8) and Max Scherzer (7).

DAY ONE HEROICS: Only once in franchise history have the Red Sox earned a walk-off win on Opening Day…On 4/15/41, they capped off a 7-6 win over the Washington Senators when Joe Cronin drew a bases-loaded walk with 1 out in the 9th inning.

LEADING OFF: The last 2 Red Sox to record a hit in the team’s first plate appearance of a season were Kiké Hernández in 2021 (single) and Dustin Pedroia in 2008 (single). It has been 33 years since the Sox opened a season at home and their first batter of the game recorded a hit
(Wade Boggs on 4/9/90 vs. DET, single off Jack Morris). The only Sox player ever to homer in the team’s 1st plate appearance of a season is Dwight Evans (1986).

FOREVER AND DEVERS: Rafael Devers has started at 3B in each of the Red Sox’ last 5 Opening Day games…The only players with 6 Opening Day starts at 3B for the Sox are Wade Boggs (10), Frank Malzone (9), Jimmy Collins (7), Larry Gardner (6), and Rico Petrocelli (6).

SOX SERVICE: Four players on the Sox’ Opening Day roster or injured list have 10+ years of MLB service: Kenley Jansen (12.073), Chris Sale (12.061), Justin Turner (12.045), and Corey Kluber (10.074).

BATTLE TESTED: Of the 26 players on the Red Sox’ Opening Day roster, 8 have won a World Series title: Ryan Brasier (BOS), Rafael Devers (BOS), Chris Sale (BOS), Kiké Hernández (LAD), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Justin Turner (LAD), Adam Duvall (ATL), and Chris Martin (ATL). In addition, Masataka Yoshida won an Olympic Gold Medal (2021), a Japan Series title (2022), and a World Baseball Classic championship (2023).

TODAY’S STARTER: 28 COREY KLUBER – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO AVG WHIP
2022 10-10 4.34 31 31 164.0 79 20 21 139 .274 1.21
CAREER 113-71 3.31 256 251 1586.2 584 160 347 1683 .237 1.11
Made his 10th Opening Day roster, 1st with the Sox (2014-19 CLE, ‘20 TEX, ‘21 NYY, ‘22 TB). Is making his 6th Opening Day start (also 2015-19 with CLE)…In his first 5, went 0-4 with a 4.01 ERA (15 ER/33.2 IP)…Allowed 2 runs over 7.0+ innings in 3 of those 5 outings. In 2022, walked 3.0% of his batters faced, the lowest rate of his career and best in the majors…Was the lowest single-season BB% by a qualified starter in Rays history. Is a 3-time All-Star (2016-18)…Finished in the top 10 in AL Cy Young Award voting in 5 consecutive seasons from 2014-18 with CLE, winning the award in 2014 and 2017. Is 6-4 with a 3.94 ERA (43 ER/96.0 IP) in 16 career starts vs. BAL. Has won his last 4 starts at Fenway Park…In 7 career starts at Fenway, is 4-1 with a 3.53 ERA (17 ER/43.1 IP)…Threw more than 5.0 innings in each of those 7 outings.