The Baltimore Orioles signed Tyler O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million deal last offseason, and it looked like money well spent early on. The slugging outfielder crushed his sixth career Opening Day home run right out of the gate.
Then came his second homer not long after. But that’s where the good times ended.
O’Neill hit the IL with neck inflammation in late April, and it wouldn’t be his only trip there. He missed 108 games during the regular season while dealing with a left shoulder impingement and right wrist inflammation.
Baltimore could’ve used his bat this year. Plenty of their sluggers underperformed, which helps explain why they finished dead last in the AL East. But there’s hope O’Neill can return to form in 2025.
Ready to Get Back to Work
O’Neill would be the first to tell you he didn’t live up to expectations this season. He prides himself on his work ethic and has a clear plan for the offseason, via MLB.com’s Jake Rill.
“I’m going to get in the gym; I’m going to work really hard in there. I’m going to trust my training program and rely on experts around me. I’m going to have a facility to myself and a batting cage to myself, just the way I like it. So I’ll be able to get good work in throughout the months in the wintertime.”
The motivation is there. O’Neill wants nothing more than to dominate next season and help his team bounce back from a disappointing year.
“Coming into next year, there’s a lot of motivation to want to produce and be more available.”
That last part – being more available – might be the key. When healthy, O’Neill’s proven he can produce at an elite level. The Orioles are counting on him staying on the field in 2025.
