Just a couple of months ago, one Baltimore Orioles star pitcher must have been wondering if it was the end of the road for him. He had a poor start with the O’s, going 0-6 with a 10+ ERA. Not many gave it a thought that he would ever make a comeback at the age of 41. Doubt was creeping in on him. He admitted it. “Those thoughts kind of creep into your head — ‘What am I doing?’ Right? Because if I’m not helping the team, if I’m just kind of weighing the team down, I think maybe we’d talk about that. It would be way easier if I was throwing 89-91 [mph] and my curve wasn’t spinning and my changeup wasn’t sinking and running and my cutter wasn’t consistent. “It would be way easier just to go, ‘You know what, I don’t have it anymore. I just don’t have the physical talent to do it anymore.’ But the problem is I do.”

Well, fate had some other plans for Charlie Morton, and the bad run would come to an end.

Morton weaved his magic in the series opener between the Orioles and the Los Angeles Angels. In his five innings, Morton managed to strike out 10, allowing only five hits and just a walk. Not only did he prove that age is just a number, but he also showed that although form is temporary, class is permanent. The fans couldn’t agree more, either!

The 41-year-old veteran, with his stellar display of pitching, defied the age factor. Probably that’s why Morton is in stark contrast with Randy Johnson, who recorded 10 strikeouts in multiple games in a single season in 2008. The last time a pitcher around his age managed to record a similar number of strikeouts was Rich Hill in 2021. However, what left the fans more amazed was the way Charlie Morton was throwing the pitches. He has been literally throwing the pitches at 96 mph at this age.

Can you believe it? Well, no one would have guessed it. Charlie Morton had a pretty terrible start this season. He had a 6.05 ERA at the beginning of the season, 61 IP, and recorded only 67 strikeouts at a 1.66 WHIP. With the Baltimore Orioles lagging at the bottom of the AL East, it was pretty sure that they won’t be able to drop their ace pitcher.

Eventually, Morton made his way back to the rotation, and he didn’t disappoint. The game between the Orioles and Angels started on a positive note as both Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano blasted off home runs. But right after Charlie Morton stepped up on the mound, he literally created a rampage.

It was indeed a spectacle to witness! Morton struck out three batters in the first inning, followed by two more in the second, and again struck out three in the third inning. But that’s not the end! He got another two out in the fourth and fifth innings. In fact, the team tumbled down like a pack of cards, ultimately losing by 0-2 against the Orioles. But the real game changer was his curveballs and high velocity that allowed him to equal his previous 10-strikeout record on April 3, 2025.

Morton was so dominant that he even hit Schanuel on the foot. Talking about the display, Morton said, “So I’m on the mound, you’re in the box. I know what it took for us to be here in this moment together. I hate hitting guys, but sometimes I just snap that thing and it clips people and sometimes they swing.” 

Now that Morton is wearing Randy Johnson-esque gear, fans are in awe of how he is doing so. 

The 41-year-old Orioles ace’s age-defying pitches have had fans swooning over 

The Baltimore Orioles‘ postseason aspirations must have gone out of their hands as they lag at the bottom of their division. However, more than their overall performance, the entire spotlight has been shifted to Charlie Morton, who may be just proving that age is just a “number.”

He has struck out 10 hitters two times this season. He is throwing pitches at 96 mph, which is going to put young pitchers to shame. In fact, it’s hard to get over what he has done. Don’t you think?

“HE’S THROWING 96 AT 41?!” someone questions on the post made by the MLB. But, of course, Charlie Morton did that. And it’s not just the first time. He did strike out 10 back in April. Morton always had this pace in the fastballs he pitched, and today, it was no different. But at this age? Well, we aren’t taking away anything from him, but yes, clocking that velocity is something beyond imagination.

 A comment from a fan shows that he may have changed his mindset. “I’m sorry, unc.” Well, not many are unaware that there were fans who mocked him as Uncle Charlie due to his age. Rumors and speculations further mounted on him when he faced early struggles this season, prompting many to think that it might be the end of his 18-year career. The fan feels sorry now, as Morton came back stronger and proved to everyone what he is capable of. Throwing fastballs is never easy and Morton is doing it at 41 years, which many pitchers have never even dreamed of.

An X user teased the Angels for going down so badly against Charlie Morton. “Idk if Angels fans know that if the ball touches the zone, it’s a strike. Even if they brought in ABS challenges, it would call that a strike, lol.” The Los Angeles Angels are having a quiet season, currently standing fourth in the AL West. It’s a pity that they couldn’t even make a proper hit. They are struggling with their offensive production. They have barely managed any walks and have been getting struck out quite often, which further added to their woes of getting enough runs on board. So, the fan has a fair point, no? That even if the ABS is implemented, they will still be struck out. LOL!!

Another fan was left amazed by Morton’s fastballs. “That fastball is pretty much alive 🔥.” Well, it was on point, too. The 41-year-old’s fastballs dipped to 92.4 mph in 2020 after averaging 94.7 mph all throughout 2019 and at the start of 2019. However, the right-hander used to be a great pitcher for Atlanta, where he closed out with a 4.19 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP and 167:65 K:BB across the 165.1 innings he pitched. He also lost some velocity after that. However, in the latest outing, he managed to generate 16 WHIFFs on the 78 pitches, marking his second 10-strikeout record of this season.

The final comment from a user showed how happy everyone is with the way he performed. “Best and most underrated curve in baseball.” Best—probably because with such velocity, Morton went scoreless in his five innings. Why underrated? Well, we probably are obsessed with big names and often overlook players like Morton. In fact, we often consider players at this age not fit enough to throw such kinds of curveballs, don’t we? Had there been no delay, Morton would have given another quality start in his four appearances ever since his name was included in the rotation on May 26.