Kyle Bradish’s season ended with an abdominal issue, and the Orioles right-hander will open his offseason in an operating room rather than a weight room.
Bradish is scheduled for sports hernia surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia, with Dr. William Meyers set to perform the procedure. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said the club expects a routine recovery, though Baltimore has not put a firm timetable on Bradish’s return and could ease him into Spring Training in 2027.
| Bradish’s 2026 line | Figure |
|---|---|
| Starts | 29 |
| Innings | 155 |
| Season ERA | 4.12 |
| ERA through first 24 starts | 3.65 |
| ERA over final five outings | 6.95 |
The issue became impossible to ignore in Toronto on Sept. 12. Bradish gave up five runs in three innings, departed after 56 pitches and was placed on the injured list the following day with lower abdominal discomfort.
Manager Craig Albernaz said Bradish had been feeling the problem over his last three starts. Elias described it as something that surfaced late, then worsened enough over the final couple of turns to affect the pitcher’s work. Once the club understood the extent of it, Baltimore elected to shut him down.
“We’re hoping everything goes smoothly,” Elias said, noting that the organization has dealt with similar early-offseason procedures in recent years and generally seen good results.
A full workload after Tommy John recovery
Bradish reached 155 innings in his first complete season back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2024. He had totaled only 14 starts between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, making this year’s 29-start run an important step in his return.
The Orioles monitored his workload along the way and occasionally provided an added day between starts. For much of the season, that approach had Bradish pitching effectively; the late ERA spike arrived as the abdominal trouble took hold.
Baltimore nevertheless made its long-term commitment clear in July, signing Bradish to a five-year, $90 million extension that made him the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history.
| Orioles rotation pieces | Recent record |
|---|---|
| Kyle Bradish | Five-year, $90 million extension in July |
| Shane Baz | Five-year, $68 million extension in March |
| Brandon Young | 3.56 ERA in 28 starts |
| Trevor Rogers | 3.16 ERA across 48 starts over two seasons |
Bradish and fellow right-hander Shane Baz, who received a five-year, $68 million deal in March, are positioned as the central figures in Baltimore’s future rotation. Brandon Young also appears set to return after his breakout campaign, finishing with a 3.56 ERA over 28 starts.
Rogers remains a free-agent question
The remaining uncertainty surrounds left-hander Trevor Rogers, who will enter free agency this offseason. The 28-year-old has posted a 3.16 ERA over 48 starts during the past two seasons.
Elias said Baltimore wants Rogers back and plans to speak with his representatives before free agency begins, as well as during the process if Rogers reaches the market.
“We would love for him to remain here,” Elias said. He added that Rogers has worked hard since being drafted to reach free agency in a healthy and productive position, and that the system gives him every right to explore that opportunity. Still, Elias said the Orioles’ interest in retaining him is “very high.”
For now, Bradish’s immediate assignment is recovery. The Orioles have made their investment in his right arm; the next move is giving him time to get fully healthy before asking for another full turn through the rotation.
