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Andy Kostka

Andy

Andy Kostka is an Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Banner, focused on telling stories that revolve around — and away from — baseball. He previously covered the Orioles for The Baltimore Sun, and before that he worked for The Clarion Ledger in Mississippi. Andy graduated from the University of Maryland and grew up in Rockville.

The latest from Andy Kostka

Orioles’ first shutout loss of the season nets a series win for the Mariners
Seattle scored all of its runs against Shane Baz in the first inning.
Leody Taveras of the Orioles steals second base during the eighth inning Thursday in Seattle.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s role with the Orioles is growing beyond his part ownership
Two people with knowledge of Ripken’s role who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Ripken has increased his presence in player development, including work on fundaments, as The Athletic first reported.
Cal Ripken Jr. played for the Orioles from 1981-2001 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
How an Orioles hitting coach analyzes Gunnar Henderson’s trying season
In 2024, Henderson was well on his way to becoming a star. Last year was a modest step back, and this year his .706 OPS entering Wednesday is the lowest of his career.
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has 15 home runs and a .713 OPS.
Kyle Bradish spins a career-high 12 strikeouts, dazzling in Orioles’ win vs. Mariners
In his best outing of the season, Bradish showed he’s all the way back.
Kyle Bradish, with catcher Adley Rutschman, allowed one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings Wednesday night at Seattle.
Orioles bats go cold against Logan Gilbert as Mariners take first game of series
The Orioles finished tied for a season-low three hits, two of which occurred in the first inning before Adley Rutschman’s infield single in the ninth.
Seattle Mariners' Colt Emerson scores ahead of the tag from Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman during the seventh inning.
Orioles closer Ryan Helsley returns from injured list
The right-handed pitcher has been out since April with elbow inflammation.
Baltimore Orioles closer Ryan Helsley is rejoining the team after elbow inflammation sidelined him in April.
The biggest win of Ryan Helsley’s season? His young daughter can hear.
Over the last few months, Ryan Helsley's daughter Tatum underwent cochlear implant surgery on both ears. Helsley, in the middle of his first season with the Orioles, departed the club for three days to be with his family during the operations.
Ryan Helsley, in his first season with the Orioles, had seven saves and a 2.53 ERA when he went on the injured list.
The Orioles explain how to break in a baseball glove like a big leaguer
Just like no two players are the same, no two ways to break in a glove are the same.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) throws to first base in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Orioles place Chris Bassitt on injured list, recall Trey Gibson to start Monday’s game
Baltimore has three other starting pitchers on the shelf: right-handers Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer and left-hander Cade Povich.
Orioles right-hander Chris Bassitt pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 28.
Shane Baz’s favorite pitch is one he has never thrown in a game: A knuckleball
“I’m going to throw it in a game. It’s just a matter of when,” Baz said.
Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Rogers Centre on June 7, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.
How umpires explained the Ernie Clement-Gunnar Henderson play in Blue Jays-Orioles game
“The runner has the right to establish his basepath, and so Clement had established his basepath to avoid the fielder from potential interference,” umpire Nic Lentz told a pool reporter.
Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles speaks with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt #21 during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre on June 7, 2026 in Toronto, Canada.
A critical call against Orioles has massive domino effect, and Blue Jays take advantage
The call, along with a Gunnar Henderson error, opened the door for the Blue Jays in a five-run sixth inning.
Gunnar Henderson complains about the call in the sixth inning that turned around the Orioles’ game at Toronto on Sunday.
Blue Jays’ big third inning sinks Kyle Bradish, Orioles in 6-4 loss
The Orioles chipped away at the lead the Blue Jays built in the early innings, but an uncharacteristically poor performance from Bradish set the groundwork of Baltimore’s 6-4 loss at Rogers Centre.
Kyle Bradish allowed nine hits and five runs in four innings Saturday in Toronto.
Orioles slugger Samuel Basallo’s MRI is clean after he exited game with abdominal discomfort
The MRI on Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo’s abdomen was clean, manager Craig Albernaz said a day after the slugger departed Friday’s series-opening win due to discomfort on his right side.
Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo’s MRI was clean, manager Craig Albernaz said Saturday, a day after the slugger left a series-opening win with right-side discomfort.
Orioles’ offense erupts in blowout victory against Blue Jays
That outpouring of runs continued what has been a strong stretch for Baltimore.
Gunnar Henderson scores after dashing around the bases on a double by Adley Rutschman in the sixth inning.
Orioles slugger Samuel Basallo exits game with right abdominal discomfort
The Orioles have had 19 players hit the injured list this season.
Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo entered Friday’s series opener in Toronto with a .276 batting average and .842 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
The Orioles’ rotation has turned a corner. A focus on ‘attacking’ is the biggest reason.
“The starting pitching group is kind of like their own team,” manager Craig Albernaz said.
Trevor Rogers pitches in the first inning against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday.
One year later, Trevor Rogers delivers again at Fenway Park
Baltimore (30-33) has won nine of 13 games, allowing the club to hang in the wild-card hunt despite a poor start.
Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers delivers during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox.
Chris Bassitt departs early as Orioles fall to Red Sox in lopsided loss
The dismal performance Wednesday doesn’t derail the momentum built over the last two weeks — the Orioles (29-33) had won eight of their last 11 entering this game — but this did feature a return of some of the issues that plagued Baltimore the first month and a half of the season.
Orioles starter Chris Bassitt left after three innings Wednesday, allowing six hits, two walks and three runs.
Samuel Basallo says one plate appearance led to his Orioles breakout. Here’s how.
What changed in that moment is hard to describe. “I think it was a feeling, for sure,” Basallo said.
Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo hits a triple to bring home Pete Alonso during the fifth inning.
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