Eflin surprises with increased velocity in first start since back surgery

Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin impressed in his Grapefruit League debut, showing improved velocity after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Zach Eflin, a 31-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, made his first Grapefruit League start on Thursday since undergoing back surgery 6.5 months ago. Eflin tossed 2+ scoreless innings, giving up just 1 hit while striking out 3. The most notable part of his outing was the increased velocity on his pitches, with his sinker, four-seam fastball, and cutter all averaging higher speeds than last season. Eflin was surprised by the uptick in velocity, saying he feels like he has a "brand-new back" after the procedure. The Orioles are hopeful Eflin can return to the form he showed in 2023-24, when he posted a 3.54 ERA over 59 starts.

Why it matters

Eflin's strong spring debut is an encouraging sign for the Orioles, who are hoping he can solidify their starting rotation after dealing with back issues and injuries last season. If Eflin can stay healthy, he could provide a major boost to the pitching staff and help the team rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign.

The details

In his 40-pitch, 21-strike outing, Eflin maxed out at 94 mph and saw his average velocities on his sinker (92.2 mph), four-seam fastball (92.9 mph), and cutter (90.3 mph) all exceed his 2025 marks. Eflin said he was "surprised" by the increased velocity, crediting it to improved mechanics after the back surgery. The Orioles are hopeful Eflin can return to the form he showed in 2023-24, when he posted a 3.54 ERA in 343 innings over 59 starts for Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

  • Eflin underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure 6.5 months ago.
  • Eflin made his 2026 Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Zach Eflin

A 31-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles who is coming off back surgery and looking to rebound after a disappointing 2025 season.

Craig Albernaz

The manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who is monitoring Eflin's recovery and progression during spring training.

Brandon Hyde

The former manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 2019-2025, who is now a senior advisor in Tampa Bay's baseball operations department.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's probably all mechanics. I was kind of surprised at how it was coming out. But that's what I used to expect. Genuinely, how I feel right now is how I used to feel when I was throwing a little harder. I'm hoping that continues to keep climbing up, and if it doesn't, that's fine. I feel healthy. I was hitting my spots.”

— Zach Eflin (mlb.com)

“It's just a matter of how he's feeling during the buildup process. Just want him to have the one challenge ahead of him and attack it, and then, we'll read and react to each one.”

— Craig Albernaz, Manager, Baltimore Orioles (mlb.com)

“So grateful for being here right now. But I just had six-plus great years there with great relationships with a lot of people. It's just a strange feeling, kind of the way it happened in May and then not seeing people for a while. But it's great to see these guys.”

— Brandon Hyde, Senior Advisor, Tampa Bay Rays (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Orioles will continue to monitor Eflin's progress and build up his pitch count during the remainder of spring training. The team will decide if he is ready to be in the starting rotation when the regular season begins in early April.

The takeaway

Eflin's strong spring debut, featuring increased velocity on his pitches, is a promising sign for the Orioles as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. If Eflin can stay healthy and regain his 2023-24 form, he could provide a major boost to Baltimore's starting rotation.