Spring training is so close you can almost hear the thwack of baseballs popping into catchers’ mitts.

For the Orioles, spring training offers a chance to put their disappointing finish to the 2024 season behind them and focus on another World Series chase. Baltimore has something to prove this year after falling short of the American League East title and being swept out of the playoffs for the second straight season. The opportunity to do so will begin in Sarasota, Florida, where the team will gather to prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Out are Corbin Burnes, Anthony Santander and James McCann. In are Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez. The Orioles’ roster will have a different look in 2025, but their collection of burgeoning talent highlighted by Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday and Grayson Rodriguez remains one of the strongest young cores in the league.

Before pitchers and catchers officially kick off Orioles spring training when they report to Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday, Baltimore Sun reporters Jacob Calvin Meyer and Matt Weyrich and editor Tim Schwartz discuss which storylines they’re following closely.What is the biggest question facing the Orioles heading into spring training?

Meyer: Did general manager Mike Elias do enough to replace Burnes in the rotation? How much will the Orioles miss Santander? Was Rutschman’s concerning second half a fluke? Those questions are all vital in determining what type of ballclub the Orioles will be this season. But a larger question looms over an organization that’s gone more than 40 years since its last World Series, suffering 10 straight playoff losses and a painful rebuild in just the past decade: Are the Orioles heading in the right direction? The answer was an easy “yes” to open each of the past two springs. But a mediocre second half, another playoff sweep and an underwhelming winter in David Rubenstein’s first offseason as owner has raised doubts about whether the Orioles can take the next step and compete for a championship.

Weyrich: As much as the Orioles will hope to unlock ace potential from one of their top starting pitchers, their season was derailed in the second half of 2024 because of their offense. The onus didn’t fall on one player — and several were absent because of injury — but the Orioles need Rutschman to return to form for their lineup to carry them to wins. The catcher hit .194 from July 1 on last year and, not only did his power disappear with four home runs in 69 games, his walk rate and overall on-base percentage dipped as well. As their preferred No. 2 hitter, Rutschman will once again be relied on heavily to get on base for the slew of power bats behind him and any signs of a bounce back he can show during spring will be a welcomed sight.

Schwartz: It has to be the rotation. Zach Eflin is not an ace, though he can pitch like one from time to time, something Orioles fans saw last year. But there’s a reason he’s long been viewed as a middle-of-the-rotation guy. This roster does not have a true, shutdown No. 1 starter, and that’s the key to making a deep postseason run. Don’t get me wrong; I like the Orioles’ rotation dept. Sugano has potential. Rodriguez has ace potential. Eflin is consistently effective. But how do the Orioles win 11 or more playoff games to win a World Series without a dominant starter? Baltimore will surely be in the mix at the trade deadline for a guy, but don’t expect the Orioles to make a splash. It’s not their way.

With so few spots up for grabs, are there any roster battles you’ll be watching closely?

Meyer: The battle I’ll be following most this spring is the one between Holliday and anything standing in his way from being an everyday player. Holliday will likely get the first crack at being the Orioles’ starting second baseman against right-handed starters, but he’s far from a lock for an everyday role. After a disappointing first taste of the big leagues, there are obstacles in his way from becoming Henderson’s permanent double-play partner: He’s young and still relatively inexperienced at second base; he’s yet to prove he’s capable against big league left-handed pitching; and Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo are solid options behind him. But few players at Orioles camp have the potential Holliday possesses, and claiming an everyday spot at second base is within his grasp.

Weyrich: One of the Orioles’ biggest roster construction questions entering spring is just how far away Mateo, who had left elbow surgery in August, is from returning to the field and what their plans for replacing him might be. Sánchez, Ramón Urías and Ramón Laureano appear to be locks for the first three bench spots, but with seven outfielders on the 40-man roster and both Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo looming as major league-ready prospects, the Orioles have plenty of options should Mateo not be ready for opening day.

Schwartz: Where do the Orioles’ young starting pitchers fit into the picture? I will be interested to see if Cade Povich or Chayce McDermott can take hold of a rotation spot and run with it. While I find it unlikely the Orioles go that route to start the season, the development of starting pitchers is a storyline I’m watching. As I mentioned above, Rodriguez is the guy to watch. If he outperforms his trajectory, the Orioles might not need to seek an ace.

How do you see the Orioles’ outfield depth chart shaking out by the end of camp?

Meyer: After the Orioles signed O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million contract to replace Santander, it seemed as if they were done adding outfielders. Instead, they bolstered the group by bringing in Laureano and Dylan Carlson to provide depth and balance out a lefty-heavy lineup. The biggest question in the outfield is about how manager Brandon Hyde will find adequate playing time for Kjerstad. Will he be a left-handed bench bat, which is mostly the role he’s served thus far in his big league career? Or will he be given a chance to earn regular playing time against right-handed starters? How Kjerstad plays this spring might determine those answers.

Weyrich: Much of this will depend on Mateo, but the Orioles appear to be planning for five outfielders on their opening day roster. Cowser, O’Neill and Cedric Mullins are their expected starters and Laureano joined the club on a late-offseason deal worth $4 million to presumably be an extra right-handed bat for their lefty-heavy bench. Kjerstad has nothing left to prove at Triple-A, however, and could still get at-bats against right-handed pitchers as a platoon partner for O’Neill or one with Laureano at designated hitter. Carlson has minor league options, likely ticketing him for Norfolk to start the year.

Schwartz: If the Orioles don’t give Kjerstad a fair shot at regular playing time, they should consider trading him despite his lessened value. Because young players need at-bats to grow, and Baltimore has yet to give that to their former first-round draft pick. I like Tyler O’Neill; I think he’ll produce at a high level if he remains healthy. But they have enough depth to overcome any injury to an outfielder.

Which player would benefit most from a standout spring?

Meyer: Is it cheating to pick two? Yes. Am I going to anyway? Also yes. There are several players fighting for roster spots or bigger roles who need a standout spring: Holliday, Kjerstad, Trevor Rogers, Povich and several others. But two players who are unlikely to break camp in the majors are the ones who could benefit most this spring. Mayo and Samuel Basallo, the Orioles’ top two prospects, could expedite their timelines with a strong spring. Mayo needs to adjust to offspeed stuff at the plate and prove he can reliably play the corners, while Basallo must hit like himself and prove his defensive ability behind the dish.

Weyrich: Holliday’s roster spot doesn’t appear to be in any serious jeopardy, but the Orioles’ likely starting second baseman could use a big Grapefruit League performance to springboard himself into the regular season. Now, Holliday did exactly that last year with a .954 OPS in spring only to not make the team but, after the rude awakening that was his rookie year and the work he put in over the offseason on his swing and approach, seeing that translate into success on the field could go a long way in setting the tone for his 2025 season.

Schwartz: Holliday. As Matt mentioned above, his footing should be secure on this roster, but the fact is the Orioles have options behind him if he struggles. That should put some pressure on the 21-year-old to perform well during spring training — or he might be in a rotation until he figures it out.

Who will start opening day: Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez or someone else?

Meyer: The Orioles have a pitcher who started on opening day last season. Before he was traded to Baltimore, Eflin was the Tampa Bay Rays’ No. 1 starter after finishing sixth in American League Cy Young voting in 2023. Eflin isn’t an “ace,” but he is — at least for now — the Orioles’ No. 1 starter.

Weyrich: I’ll go with Rodriguez, who last year showed that the second half of his rookie campaign in 2023 was no fluke. He spent the season learning from Burnes what it takes to be an ace and this year the Orioles will give him every opportunity to take that mantle. The only thing holding him back now is health.

Schwartz: Eflin. He’s their best starter right now. Rodriguez certainly could with a dominant spring training, but the Orioles will go with the sure thing and ride the veteran to start Game 1.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich and Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.