Rotation candidate: Kyle Bradish had strong finish in 2022

He is one of a host of Orioles' rotation candidates that number about 10 to 12 as spring training is set to begin, but right-hander Kyle Bradish may have a leg up on some of his competition. His strong finish to the 2022 season is one big reason for that.

On the year, over 23 games and 117 2/3 innings, he went 4-7 with a 4.90 ERA, allowing 119 hits with 46 walks and 111 strikeouts. He recorded a 1.402 WHIP with a 3.5 walk rate, 8.5 K rate and 1.3 homer rate. He had a 45.3 groundball rate and his Fielding Independent Pitching of 4.39 was an improvement on his overall ERA.

But late in the year he was throwing quite well. Over his last 13 games, after returning in late July from right shoulder inflammation, he went 3-3 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. In those games he allowed a batting average of .212 and .607 OPS.

But in his last eight games he really had a strong finishing kick, going 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA and he allowed just two homers over 45 2/3 innings. In those eight games, he recorded four quality starts, posted a 1.01 WHIP, allowing a .169 batting average and OPS of .500. All just about dominant numbers.

And those eight games were against in order Houston, Cleveland, Toronto, Boston, Toronto, Houston, Boston and the New York Yankees. In the two starts versus the eventual World Series winning Astros, he pitched a combined 16 2/3 scoreless innings allowing just four hits with two walks and 16 strikeouts.

If Bradish goes on to become a regular in the rotation and continues to improve his numbers, he could provide proof that you can get a solid rotation pitcher that is neither a high draft pick, a highly ranked prospect or a homegrown product.

The Orioles acquired him with three other pitchers from the Los Angeles Angels on Dec. 4, 2019, for right-hander Dylan Bundy. Bradish was selected by Los Angeles in round four in the 2018 draft out of New Mexico State. And while he was never a top 100 prospect he was ranked as the Orioles No. 9 prospect by Baseball America and No. 10 via MLBPipeline.com when he made his MLB debut last April 29 versus the Boston Red Sox.

Bradish was tougher last year on lefty batters, allowing a .235 average and .672 OPS while right-handers produced numbers of .280/.804 against him.

And there are surely things to work on and improve.

Bradish was that rare Bird with worse pitching stats at home than on the road. He went 1-5 with a 5.00 ERA and 1.71 homer rate at Oriole Park. He was 3-2 with a 4.77 ERA on the road with an 0.82 home run rate. The homer split numbers are puzzling.   

He also posted an 0-7 record and 7.21 ERA against AL East teams. The division hitters recorded a .904 OPS against him so there are some adjustments to make against teams that he and the Orioles will face fewer times in the 2023 season. Despite that high ERA, he did limit divisional opponents to three earned runs-or-fewer in seven of his final eight AL East outings. Again, his finishing kick was solid.

If Bradish can build on that finish to last season, he may be ready at age 26 to take a regular turn in the Orioles rotation.