One way to measure a reliever’s value begins before his first pitch: how often his team can count on him. Yennier Cano delivered again in 2026, completing his fourth consecutive season with at least 60 appearances—a streak no Baltimore pitcher had achieved since Darren O’Day from 2012 through 2015.
The Cuban right-hander appeared in 68 games, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, a 4–3 record, three saves and 14 holds. Over 49⅔ innings, he allowed 40 hits, issued 13 walks and struck out 45 batters. His WHIP stood at 1.07.
That consistency made Cano the eighth Orioles pitcher since 1954 to record four seasons with at least 60 appearances. In his case, all four came consecutively.
Few Pitches and Plenty of Ground Balls
One of the most striking aspects of Cano’s season was how few pitches he needed to complete his outings. He made 34 appearances of 10 pitches or fewer, the highest total in Major League Baseball in 2026, ahead of Toronto’s Mason Fluharty, who had 31.
In Baltimore’s history since 1954, only Jesse Orosco, with 43 in 1999; B.J. Ryan, with 40 in 2003; and Jamie Walker, with 36 in 2007, recorded more such outings in a season.
An appearance does not necessarily mean a full inning, but the statistic illustrates how frequently Cano handled his assignments with a low pitch count.
Much of that efficiency came with a familiar feature of his repertoire. Ground balls accounted for 62.2% of the balls put in play against him, the third-highest rate in the majors among pitchers with at least 40 innings. Only the Yankees’ Tim Hill and Toronto’s Tyler Rogers finished ahead of him.
His sinker was his most frequently used pitch, accounting for 54.9% of his offerings and averaging 94.8 mph.
Yennier Cano: A Tough Matchup for Right-Handed Hitters
Right-handed hitters managed just a .170 average against Cano, collecting 19 hits in 112 at-bats. That was the fourth-lowest mark among American League relievers who faced at least 120 right-handed batters.
He also kept the ball in the park for an extended stretch. From April 24 through September 2, Cano made 48 consecutive appearances without allowing a home run—the longest streak of his career. He covered 36 innings during that span.
Baltimore secured his return on July 31 with a contract extension covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons, plus a club option for 2029. Cano finished the year with another achievement that helps explain that investment in his arm: four consecutive seasons answering at least 60 calls from the bullpen.