Concerning Orioles All-Star trend should worry every fan in Baltimore

The Baltimore Orioles' recent resurgence has been one of the more exciting storylines in Major League Baseball over the past few seasons. With a core of young, homegrown talent, the team has flirted with contention, igniting hope among a fanbase longing for a World Series title. But while playoff races and regular-season stretches come with their natural ups and downs, there’s a subtle trend emerging at the All-Star break that hints at a deeper problem in Baltimore.

The Orioles can’t seem to hold onto All-Stars — not just in the literal sense of roster turnover, but in terms of consistent star power and year-over-year production. Over the last three seasons, the Orioles have had strong representation at the Midsummer Classic. But looking at the names tells the real story.

Baltimore’s inconsistent All-Star presence exposes core concerns

In 2023, the club sent Félix Bautista, Yennier Cano, Austin Hays, and Adley Rutschman. In 2024, the names shifted to Corbin Burnes, Gunnar Henderson, Rutschman (again), Anthony Santander, and Jordan Westburg. Now in 2025, the only finalists are Ryan O'Hearn (as a designated hitter) and Jackson Holliday (at second base).

Gone are Burnes, Santander, and Hays — all key contributors in their time. That’s to be expected in today’s game with trades and free agency. But the real red flag is who isn’t making it this year. Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman were supposed to be the cornerstone talents. They were expected to be perennial All-Star caliber players — the faces of the franchise.

Yet, Rutschman is slashing just .227/.319/.372 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. Henderson, a slightly better line, hitting .277 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. That’s solid, but for a player of his ceiling, it falls short of star-level impact. While Henderson tends to heat up in the second half — as Orioles fans witnessed last season — the point is the Orioles don’t have a true, consistent offensive anchor.

The All-Star Game isn’t everything, but it is a reflection of team identity and star power. The Orioles' constant rotation of representatives suggests a lack of continuity and direction. Their supposed core hasn’t quite lived up to its billing — not just in stats, but in availability, health, and sustained dominance.

As the Orioles continue to search for a post-rebuild identity, the lack of All-Star consistency mirrors what we see on the field. A lot of potential without permanence. Until someone seizes the moment and becomes that franchise-defining player, Baltimore’s upward trajectory will continue to feel shaky — exciting at times, but ultimately unsteady.

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