Orioles GM Mike Elias accepts blame, backs Brandon Hyde amid slow start

Taylor Lyons, The Baltimore Sun on May 2, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BALTIMORE — Mike Elias took a moment to gather his thoughts at his Friday afternoon news conference, his second in the past three weeks, when asked what makes Brandon Hyde a good manager. After a pause, the executive vice president and general manager gave one of his longest answers of the 15-minute session.

“Boy, you know, he knows baseball really well,” Elias said. “He’s a good evaluator. He uses information at his disposal in a way that is intelligent, but also in a way that cares for his players. And he’s a tough guy. He’s, you know, this is wearing on both of us.”

This, of course, is a disappointing start to a season that was supposed to be squarely in Baltimore’s window to contend for a World Series. Its young stars were supposed to blossom and veteran additions should have added to those leaps. Instead, the Orioles are at the bottom of the American League East through one month as everyone searches for answers.

Such a start has brought external pressure on Hyde, the seventh-year manager questioned by some but strongly supported by his players. Elias did the same Friday, saying he’s “very confident” in Hyde’s ability to turn the club around and that the blame should instead be on himself.

“It’s been really disappointing for all of us in the organization,” Elias said. “That’s my responsibility. I’m in charge of baseball operations and when we have a bad record to start the year, that’s my responsibility.

“When we’re experiencing failure, it’s really important in that job, and in my job, too, to be consistent with your approach. And he’s doing that.”

Baltimore’s 12-18 record through April is the club’s worst start to a season since 2019 — even in the heart of a rebuild, the Orioles won more than they have in 2025. Players continue to back Hyde as the team struggles, with some claiming that the results should reflect on them rather than the manager and adding that Hyde’s command within the clubhouse has not dissipated. Elias similarly said that Hyde’s authority within the team remains strong.

“Yeah, nobody’s happy with how we’ve performed so far,” Hyde said. “We have higher expectations for ourselves. I talk with Mike multiple times a day. We’re not satisfied in the least bit. We know our team can play better than we have.”

Elias, too, shouldered blame for the club’s underperformance. When asked if he’s now regretting his offseason moves, he said “I am constantly second guessing.” More directly, though, Elias pointed toward injuries as a source for Baltimore’s struggles.

The Orioles have 13 players — and nine pitchers — on the injured list.

“I think we’ve had obviously a lot of health issues,” Elias said. “We’ve had some guys individually with just literally tough luck on the balls that they’re hitting. And then we’ve got a lot of players and guys with long major league track records who just aren’t performing to their norms. So all those being the case, I’m really optimistic and we’re optimistic that we’re gonna work out of that and things are gonna get better.”

Around the horn

— Right-handed pitchers Zach Eflin and Andrew Kittredge will begin rehabilitation assignments Sunday in High-A Aberdeen, Elias said. The length of Eflin’s assignment will be determined after his first outing.

— Elias said that he expects Grayson Rodriguez to pitch this season. The right-hander hasn’t appeared in a game since July 31, 2024, and was transferred to the 60-day injured list last month with right elbow inflammation/right lat strain.

— Tyler O’Neill (neck soreness) and Jordan Westburg (left hamstring strain) are “days away” more so than “weeks away” from returns, Elias said.

— Charlie Morton, who was recently moved to the bullpen to help the 41-year-old right-hander get back on track, said his rough start is not because of diminished velocity or movement on his pitches: “My ceiling is higher than people think, but my floor is about where I’m at.” When asked about Morton’s struggles, Elias agreed: “There’s still things — his stuff, basically — that present some reason for optimism.”