Most utility players have some sort of deficiency in their game that prevents them from being considered an “everyday” option. But occasionally, those super subs go on a hot streak that makes you wonder if they could make the leap to becoming a vital piece in the daily lineup. Blaze Alexander is doing that right now.
The move to acquire Alexander back in February left most Orioles fans scratching their heads. At a time when the team needed more bullpen arms, they dealt away a controllable and productive
one in Kade Strowd, plus two intriguing prospects, for a guy with no position. Sure, he could be a fine backup in a few spots, but that felt like the type of player they would have been able to found on the waiver wire for almost nothing instead of giving up three players.
Well, three months into his Orioles tenure, Alexander is actually looking like decent value for the O’s. The team has needed more help than expected at third base and in the outfield. That has thrust him into action and, while it took him some time to get his feet under him, Alexander has become one of the team’s most productive hitters.
For the season, Alexander owns a .312/.362/.447 batting line with three home runs, 12 doubles, 23 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Much of that production has come in that last five weeks or so. Since May 13, Alexander is hitting .405/.446/.631 with three home runs, 10 doubles, 20 RBI, and five stolen bases. He has also struck out just 12 times in 93 plate appearances and walked five times.
The numbers aren’t a mirage either. Alexander is hitting the ball hard. His 92.5 mph average exit velocity is in the top 10% of MLB, and his .306 expected batting average is the top 2%. He won’t be able to maintain the .405 batting average he’s had over the last five weeks (expect his .394 BABIP to come down a lot!), but his peripherals indicate he should be plenty valuable to play every day.
Alexander has been valuable on the bases as well. His eight steals are second on the team, and his base-running value (per Baseball Savant) is in the top 12% of MLB. He’s a guy that can turn a single into a double or score from first base on a ball in the gap. That is mighty helpful for a lineup that can go quiet on occassion.
The only area where Alexander has disappointed are his defensive metrics. He came to Baltimore with a reputation as being an above-average glove. But so far he has not graded out very well, being worth -3 outs above average overall. However, those numbers aren’t totally fair to Alexander, since the Orioles have asked him to play six different position this year, two of which he did not play at all in 2025. If you take his outfield glove away entirely, Alexander would have much better defensive numbers.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t seem like the Orioles are missing much with Kade Strowd in Arizona. The 28-year-old righty has pitched in one game for the Diamondbacks this season. He has spent most of his time in Triple-A, where he has a 5.87 ERA and 1.783 WHIP over 23 innings. Maybe things would have been different for him in Baltimore, but there were indicators that he was more lucky than good in 2025 anyway.
It’s possible the prospects that went the other way still pan out. Wellington Aracena had been pretty impressive after the O’s acquired him at last year’s deadline, and he has been solid in the Diamondbacks organization this year (3.83 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 44.1 IP). José Mejia OPS’d .935 in Low-A this year and earned a promotion to High-A. But both are still so far away from the majors that nothing is guaranteed.
Alexander, on the other hand, is already a bonafide big leaguer that has four more seasons of team control beyond 2026. If he can just be a 1-2 WAR player each of those seasons, he is likely to be more valuable than all of the players dealt to Arizona. If he makes the leap to everyday player, the gulf between the two could be even larger.
The flaws of the 2026 Orioles are something that Mike Elias will need to answer for if they do end up with another losing record. But the President of Baseball Operations does seem to have an eye for talent when it comes to adding around the edges. Alexander isn’t the first fringy hitter to have something click in Baltimore under Elias’ watch. There was Ramón Urías before him. Jorge Mateo had some magical moments. Ryan O’Hearn turned his career around entirely. Aaron Hicks rediscovered his old form for a brief time. Even the addition of Leody Taveras this season also looks like a smart bit of business. This sort of thing is in Elias’ wheelhouse.
