Orioles award roundup: who won awards this offseason?

The announcement of the MVP's on Thursday night signaled the end of awards season for Major League Baseball. After winning 101 games in the regular season and finishing with the best record in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles staff and players regularly appeared on the lists of players/personnel receiving votes, and won their fair share. Let's take a look at all of the hardware that made its way to Baltimore this season.

Which Orioles took home major awards this offseason?

Mike Elias: Executive of the Year

In 2019, The Orioles hired Mike Elias to be their new Executive Vice President and General Manager. Elias was given the task of breaking down and rebuilding the Orioles to once again be the cream of the crop in baseball. Elias laid out a five year plan that included a painful three year span of misery but has ultimately come full circle. Many of the stars that led the Orioles to this year's AL East division title are players that Elias either drafted or acquired via trade or free agency.

Through all of the losing, people called for changes to be made, but Elias stuck to his plan. The rebuild is now complete with the players from Elias's draft classes now joining the acquisitions Elias has made in the big leagues. The Orioles dominated in the regular season thanks in part to the roster Elias was able to put together.

Brandon Hyde: Manager of the Year

While Elias deserves much of the credit for collecting all of the pieces of the Orioles puzzle, manager Brandon Hyde deserves just as much credit for putting those puzzle pieces together. Hyde also came to the O's in 2019 and did his best to put together a winning product without having the best pieces. With the growth and development of Orioles minor leagues, Hyde now has pieces to spare.

Hyde used every player at his disposal to guide the Birds to 101 wins. He platooned several positions, got the best out of his reserve players when the Orioles had injuries, and pushed the pitching staff to be the best that they could be. After coming in second in 2022 for the award, Hyde proved that there was nobody better when he was named Manager of the Year in 2023.

Gunnar Henderson: Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger

No member of Birdland took home more hardware this year than Gunnar Henderson. After entering the season as the #1 overall prospect and overwhelming favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award, Henderson delivered in a big way. He started awards season by being voted the Player's Choice Outstanding Rookie and followed that by winning the Silver Slugger at the utility position.

He began awards week on Monday by unanimously winning the AL Rookie of the Year and finished the week with an eighth place finish in the MVP race. There is nothing but success coming for this 22 year old superstar in the making, who was also named the Most Valuable Oriole, and to the MLB All-Rookie first team at the end of the season.

Adley Rutschman: Silver Slugger

When Adley Rutschman was drafted as the first overall pick in 2019, some people believed that he was already major league ready defensively but needed to work on his offense. In his first full season in the majors, Rutschman showed off his all around game that he developed. Adley was named a finalist for the Gold Glove award, but fell short to Jonah Heim of the Texas Rangers.

He later was named the Silver Slugger at the catcher's position after leading all qualified AL catchers in hits, batting average, doubles, total bases, OBP and OPS. Rutschman, who placed ninth in MVP voting, is a team leader who is only getting better. He should make sure he has plenty of room next to his Silver Slugger on his mantle as there are many more awards awaiting him.

Other Orioles who garnered some attention were Kyle Bradish, who was a finalist in the Players Choice Awards for Outstanding Pitcher and finished fourth in the Cy Young Voting. Felix Bautista finished 11th in Cy Young voting after his season was cut short. Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle were Gold Glove finalists, and Ryan O'Hearn was a finalist for the Player's Choice Comeback Player Award.

Yennier Cano also joined Henderson on the MLB All-Rookie team. Future Orioles stars Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo were named MVP's of the Eastern League and Carolina League for their efforts in the minors. Who can forget Jackson Holliday, who was named the MiLB Prospect Hitter of the Year and the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. Put on your sunglasses, because the future is bright in Birdland.