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Jon Meoli

Jon

Jon Meoli is the Baltimore Banner's Orioles columnist. He covered the team for the Baltimore Sun from 2016-2021, and started his own Orioles newsletter, Maximizing Playoff Odds, in 2022. Prior to that, Jon covered the Ravens and community news at the Sun. A Connecticut native, lives in Riverside with his wife, two children and cat.

The latest from Jon Meoli

Left to right, the Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson and Jorge Mateo gather near the pitcher's mound during a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Jon Meoli: Don’t let the Orioles’ sloppy defense off the hook in this slow start
The Orioles’ inconsistent defense is starting to feel like a problem. Though, to be fair, there are several.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 18: Starting pitcher Cade Povich #37 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after allowing a three run home run to Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 18, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Inside the Dugout: How we got here with the Orioles’ pitching crisis
The Orioles’ pitching woes are the type they ultimately would like to be able to solve internally.
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Gunnar Henderson flips his bat after striking out in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
Jon Meoli: Even if the Orioles get past this slow start, will fans follow suit?
Some things truly are hard to get over. And, based on the first three weeks of the season, this slow start might be harder to overcome off the field than on it.
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has four hits in 25 at-bats since returning from an injury suffered in spring training.
Jon Meoli: If the Orioles believe they’re better than this, they better start showing it
They don’t look like they believe they’re very good right now, and they haven’t given anyone watching many reasons to join them in that belief.
The Baltimore Orioles prepare to take the field following the National Anthem and ahead of the team’s home opening game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Monday, March 31, 2025.
Inside the Dugout: The Orioles’ highs and lows so far
It’s just early in this season, for a team that — as hard as it may be to believe — is different from last year’s.
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Outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. photographed during the 2025 Baltimore Orioles Media Day at spring training.
Jon Meoli: Four takeaways from the Orioles’ minor league rosters
The break-camp rosters, which feature all the full-season prospects’ destinations to start the season, are out now and feature plenty of notable names from recent drafts.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich delivers a pitch during the team’s home opening game against the Boston Red Sox.
Inside the Dugout: First time through the rotation
The first trip through the Orioles’ rotation is basically whatever you want it to be.
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The Baltimore Orioles prepare to take the field ahead of the home opener.
Jon Meoli: Like Félix Bautista, ‘it might take a while’ for these Orioles to be at their best
This is still a really good team, and they’re going to win more games than they’ll lose even before the reinforcements arrive.
General manager Mike Elias and his front office have built the Orioles into a consistent contender. Fans will always want more.
Jon Meoli: For the Orioles, expectations have redefined what’s considered ‘good enough’
It feels worthless to write off this entire season as prologue and declare that all we’ll really be measuring the Orioles on is whether they fare better in the playoffs than they have the last two years.
Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo high-fives teammates as they enter the dugout ahead of a Grapefruit League game.
Inside the Dugout: Why I’m bullish on the Orioles offense
The Orioles are probably going to be a platoon-heavy outfit again.
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Baltimore Orioles first base Ryan Mountcastle (6) smiles after singling and scoring a teammate during a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards on July 29, 2024.
Jon Meoli: The value the ‘middle children’ of the Orioles’ rebuild still bring
They are some combination of overlooked and undervalued, but they’re reliable and now experienced contributors to a team that has perennial playoff aspirations.
Coby Mayo plays first base in a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers last month. He is learning that position after spending most of his time in the minors at third base.
Jon Meoli: Coby Mayo is right that returning to Triple-A has its pitfalls. There’s upside, too.
Without any kind of place for Mayo on the Orioles’ opening day roster, this feels a lot more like a case of delayed gratification than grave misjustice.
Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton takes the field with catcher Adley Rutschman ahead of a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers.
Inside the Dugout: Early returns from the Orioles’ offseason signings
It seems like at least where the Orioles’ free agent additions are concerned, things are largely going according to plan.
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Grayson Rodriguez throws a bullpen session during Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.
Inside the Dugout: Revisiting the Orioles’ starting rotation
There‘s a lot to consider as the Orioles prepare to open the season without Grayson Rodriguez.
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Pitcher Dean Kremer was one of the key players the Orioles received in the trade for Manny Machado that signaled the start of the team's rebuilding process.
Jon Meoli: Dean Kremer knows what he brings to the Orioles’ rotation. And they’re going to need it.
It shouldn’t take a crisis, real or perceived, for the value of someone like Kremer to be apparent.
The success of the Orioles’ season will depend a great deal on Gunnar Henderson, who is out with an intercostal strain during spring training.
Jon Meoli: Fighting the urge to worry about the Orioles’ spring injuries
I just have a feeling that this is going to be a wall-of-worry situation, where the obstacles and reasons for the Orioles to falter keep piling up and they push higher anyway.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) returns to the dugout after flying out during a Grapefruit League game against the Detroit Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.
Inside the Dugout: Will Gunnar Henderson get even better?
The forecasts are for Henderson to be in the same neighborhood as last year in some senses, but not all.
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Elite speed gives Orioles prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. opportunities to do things other players cannot.
Jon Meoli: Enrique Bradfield Jr. took advantage of his time in major league camp in a unique way
Bradfield spent time with Jordan Westburg and Terrin Vavra soaking in what was essentially an infielder’s cheat sheet on the best and worst places hitters can bunt, depending on their positioning.
Jessie Webb and her 4-month-old son, Jonah, watch her husband, Orioles pitcher Nate Webb, throw a live bullpen session during spring training in Sarasota, Fla.
Jon Meoli: Nate Webb’s journey to the mound for the Orioles was long. His family saw firsthand.
“Any day with a uniform, I still have a chance,” Webb said. “That’s just my goal: to keep that uniform for as long as possible.”
Young Baltimore Orioles fans beg for autographs ahead of a Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., last week.
Inside the Dugout: What the fun vibe in Sarasota says about the Orioles’ culture
This team is uniquely charming and charmingly unique.
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