O's game blog: Kyle Bradish returns to the majors in his season debut
Right-hander had Tommy John surgery on June 19, 2024
BALTIMORE - He returned to pitch on a minor league mound in a rehab game about 13 months post-surgery and a month or so after that, right-hander Kyle Bradish tonight makes his return to the major leagues.
Bradish will make his season debut tonight as the Orioles continue their four-game series with the Boston Red Sox.
He had surgery June 19, 2024 and made his pro debut this year pitching at High-A Aberdeen on July 24. He made one outing for the IronBirds, one at Double-A and four with Triple-A Norfolk.
Overall, in six rehab games, Bradish went 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA. Over 22 innings he gave up 23 hits with eight walks, 25 strikeouts and a 1.41 WHIP.
In his past two Norfolk games he went a combined 9 2/3 innings allowing three runs with four walks to 12 strikeouts.
Two starts ago for the Tides, Bradish threw five scoreless on 74 pitches. In his most recent game on Aug. 20, he gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings on 89 pitches.
If Bradish can at least begin to look like his old self pre-surgery, his return could be a huge boost to a Baltimore rotation which has had a poor year. And a big lift for the 2026 rotation.
In 2023, Bradish posted a 2.83 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and was fourth for the AL Cy Young Award. Since that season, counting his eight starts last year, he is 14-7 with a 2.81 ERA in 38 starts. That is the level of pitcher returning to the Orioles.
Bradish’s last MLB game was June 14, 2024 against Philadelphia when he allowed two runs over five innings on 74 pitches before exiting. The Orioles went 6-2 in his starts last year and 19-11 a season earlier.
Boston won the series opener 4-3 last night as the Orioles fell to 60-71 overall and to 1-4 on this homestand.
In losing four of five games right after they had won six of seven, O’s pitching has allowed 10 homers and 32 runs.
Over longer stretches, the Orioles are 16-14 the last 30 games and they are 44-38 (.537) since May 24.
Boston is 72-60 and has won four of five and 15 of its past 24 games.
The Sox are an AL-best 30-16 (.652) since the start of July, MLB's second-best record in that span behind Milwaukee (35-13).
Mansolino says
O’s interim manager Tony Mansolino was asked about his thoughts on Bradish returning and his expectations for tonight.
“Excited for him,” he said during his pregame press conference this afternoon at Oriole Park. “Our training staff, strength coaches. It’s a really big deal to bring a guy back from Tommy John. Especially a guy of his caliber.
“For Bradish, just be him. No expectations. We’ll see where it goes. Some guys come off Tommy John and do good, some guys take a couple of starts. Just be him. Don’t try to do too much. I’m sure the ball is going to be coming out hot, knowing the kid. He’s going to be pretty amped up and we’re just excited to have him back.”
The 2026 schedule
The Orioles released their 2026 MLB schedule today. The season begins at home Thursday March 26 against the Minnesota Twins. The O’s will host 14 weekend series, including four versus AL East teams.
They will host eight NL teams at home next year to include the Giants, Diamondbacks, Padres, Nationals, Cubs, Braves, Phillies and Brewers.
Baltimore will have three, three-city road trips after having none this year. The year concludes Sept. 27 at Yankee Stadium.
Bradish shown pitching in Aberdeen July 24
Quick bat, short stroke for Beavers. A rocket double to right at 105.2 off the bat.
I told the usher coming into the park today that if they got 5 innings and 2 runs out of Bradish, they'd probably take it and run with it. Velo has fallen a bit but he has fanned nine over five innings on 72 pitches. He threw 89 in his last AAA game.