3 biggest surprises from the first half of the Orioles' season

As is the case in any season, teams will have to rely on depth pieces throughout the course of the year to either help them push toward a championship or just survive the year. The Orioles are no different, sitting at 57-35 entering play Thursday yet still having to dig deep into their minor league options as their pitching staff has been hit hard with injuries all year.

Teams have good and bad surprises that happen to them every year, and the Orioles have certainly had their share of both. Let's take a look at the three pleasant surprises the Orioles have gotten so far this year.

Ryan O'Hearn is proving 2023 wasn't a fluke

We all know about the story of Ryan O'Hearn, acquired prior to 2023 from the Royals for nothing, then turning into a key contributor for that 101 win squad both in the field and with the bat. What we didn't know was if that surge in 2023 would carry into 2024 or if some regression would take place.

It carried over. Through 75 games, O'Hearn is slashing .279/.338/.458 with a 129 OPS+. His 11 home runs are three short of his career high that he matched last year, and he's also well on his way to surpassing the number of RBIs and doubles he had last year. He ended last year with a 1.5 fWAR, and he's already at 1.4 this year, set to blaze past the value he had last year.

The rest of the league has taken notice of O'Hearn's rise to become a key cog of the Orioles machine, as he was so close to being named an All-Star before ultimately missing the cut. Regardless, O'Hearn matching his 2023 production and then some in 2024 has been a boon for the team.

Jordan Westburg has been one of the Orioles' most consistent hitters

Expectations were high for Jordan Westburg entering the season, as he was expected to claim a starting spot in the infield and be a reliable defender while providing some pop with the bat as he was coming off his first season in the majors.

Not only did he meet those expectations, he's exceeded them. He's become another great hitter, slashing .280/.327/.512 with a .839 OPS and 140 OPS+ through 85 games. He's flashed great power as well, hitting 21 doubles and 15 home runs while ranking in the 91st percentile in batting run value, expected batting average, and expected slugging percentage.

The breakout season by Westburg has earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team in Texas while most of the league takes a break. Westburg continuing to produce in the second half will be crucial for the Orioles if they wish to go far in October.

Albert Suárez has come up big for the Orioles' rotation

After a few years overseas, Albert Suárez came back to the U.S. on a minor league deal with the Orioles and was called up early in the season to fill a spot in a decimated starting rotation. He's done more than that, he's remained in the majors and has played a valuable role as a swingman for Brandon Hyde.

Through 65 1/3 innings, Suárez has a 2.48 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, averaging seven strikeouts per nine and three walks per nine. He's been prone to hard contact but his breaking ball is deadly when it's on, ranking in the 96th percentile in offspeed run value and 90th percentile in pitching run value.

While the results have been a mixed bag as of late, Suárez wasn't projected to be in a position like this with the Orioles this year, but he's done just that. With the ability to be a starter and reliever, Suárez should be able to slide into the bullpen and be more deadly in shorter outings with an uptick in velocity if the Orioles add the pitching help they need at the trade deadline.