A year ago, both the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves entered spring training with postseason aspirations and rosters built to contend deep into October.
Instead, both clubs are arriving to camp this February with something to prove.
The Orioles finished 75-87 last season, landing at the bottom of a competitive American League East. The Braves, long considered a National League power, stumbled to a 76-86 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East. For two organizations accustomed to playing meaningful games in September, 2025 was a sobering reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in Major League Baseball.
Now, as pitchers and catchers settle into workouts, the tone in both camps is less about hype and more about accountability.
In Baltimore, the focus begins with consistency. The Orioles showed flashes of offensive potential but struggled to sustain production over long stretches, particularly against division rivals. Their young core remains intact, and club officials have emphasized internal development over sweeping changes.
Managerial and clubhouse leadership have stressed improved situational hitting and late-game execution — areas that repeatedly cost the team in one-run contests last season. The starting rotation, at times taxed by injuries and uneven performances, will be under close watch as workloads build in Grapefruit League play.
The Braves face a similar recalibration.
Atlanta’s 2025 campaign was marked by uneven pitching depth and offensive inconsistency that undercut what was expected to be a veteran-driven roster. The club’s foundation remains strong, but the margin for error in the NL East proved slim. Philadelphia controlled the division, and Atlanta never found a sustained rhythm to close the gap.
This spring, the Braves’ emphasis centers on tightening defensive execution and stabilizing the back end of the bullpen — two areas that contributed to late-inning losses a year ago. Club officials have also pointed to improved health as a critical factor after navigating stretches without key contributors in 2025.
For both teams, April will be telling.
In divisions headlined by established contenders, early momentum can shape the trajectory of an entire season. Falling behind quickly last year forced each club into prolonged stretches of catch-up baseball. A sharper start in 2026 could shift both the standings and the narrative.
Spring training rarely delivers definitive answers, but it does offer a reset — a chance to redefine expectations and recalibrate goals.
For the Orioles and Braves, the message entering camp is clear: the rebuild is not the objective, the rebound is.
Opening Day will not erase the frustrations of last year. But it will provide something both clubs lacked by mid-summer in 2025 — a clean slate.
