Chirinos and Britton join Orioles' coaching staff

Former catcher Robinson Chirinos is making his coaching debut in 2025. The Orioles are bringing him onto their staff, and they aren’t easing him into the next phase of his professional life.

Chirinos was hired as bench coach, with the club making an announcement this morning. He replaces Fredi González, who wasn’t retained.

Also debuting is Buck Britton, who’s promoted from Triple-A Norfolk manager to major league coach. Britton, older brother of former Orioles closer Zack Britton, replaces José Hernández.

Chirinos, 40, is widely viewed as a future major league manager and he drew heavy praise from manager Brandon Hyde for his knowledge and leadership as the backup catcher in 2022. Chirinos, an 11-year veteran with six clubs, batted .179 with a .552 OPS in 67 games before retiring as a player.

From 2013-19, Chirinos ranked as the sixth-most valuable primary catcher with a 13.0 bWAR.

The Orioles regarded Chirinos so highly that they invited him to camp as a guest instructor this spring. His returns to Camden Yards attracted crowds on the field, his popularity never more evident.

Britton’s contract with Norfolk expired on Oct. 31 and he’s attracted interest from major league teams.

Britton, 38, was Tides manager for the past three seasons, giving him six in the Orioles’ system along with Double-A Bowie and Single-A Delmarva. He began his coaching career as Shorebird’s hitting coach in 2017.

This is a chance for Britton to make it to the majors after a nine-year minor league playing career with the Orioles (2008-14), Dodgers (2015) and Twins (2016). He guided Norfolk to the Triple-A National Championship and International League Championship in ’23 and was chosen IL Manager of the Year. He received the same honor in the Eastern League in ’19, when the Baysox reached their second championship series.

Many of the young Orioles played for Britton, who pitched to Gunnar Henderson in the Home Run Derby in Texas.

“Buck did a great job,” Hyde said in 2023. “Communicated with him quite a bit throughout the season. Obviously, we've had a lot of players come up from Norfolk come up and produce and help us when they got here.”

“He meant everything,” said infielder Jordan Westburg. “I think Buck is one of, if not my favorite managers so far coming up through professional baseball. I got to spend 2021 with him in Bowie and then I got to spend parts of 2022 and the entire first half of 2023 with him, so I’ve got a lot of experience with Buck. I love him as a manager. I think he’s great for young guys, I think he’s great for old guys. I think he keeps the clubhouse light but also pushes guys and knows when to be hard on some guys.

“I can’t say enough good about Buck Britton, so I could make this a long-winded answer. I just love that guy, I think the world of him, and it’s no surprise that every team he’s coached has had success and had young guys and old guys kind of turn the corner and revamp their careers and find their footing in professional baseball. I don’t think that’s a surprise.”

Being a major league coach puts Britton back in a utility role. He’s capable of assisting every other coach in some capacity.

“He takes care of you,” said outfielder Heston Kjerstad. “He gets to know you as a player, but also gets to know you as a person. He does really well managing the team day to day and making sure you stay locked in and focusing on the main goal, but also remind you to have fun, enjoy it, understand the process, keep working, and also enjoy who you’re around and who’s in the locker room with you and to have a good time.”

The rest of the staff includes holdovers and previously reported hires.

Hyde will enter his seventh season, the last two culminating in playoff berths. Cody Asche, 34, moves up from offensive strategy coach to hitting coach. Asche was upper-level hitting coordinator in 2022.

Tommy Joseph, 33, comes over from the Mariners to serve as assistant hitting coach. He joined Seattle after three seasons as a minor league hitting coach for the Giants’ High-A affiliate in Eugene in 2023 and the Mets’ Double-A affiliate in Binghamton in 2022 and Single-A club in St. Lucie in 2021.

Upper-level hitting coordinator Sherman Johnson, 34, has added assistant hitting coach to his duties. He was Norfolk’s hitting coach in 2023.

Co-hitting coaches Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte landed new jobs for next season – the former as White Sox’s director of hitting and the latter and Twins’ hitting coach.

Tim Cossins remains major league field coordinator/catching instructor, Drew French pitching coach, Mitch Plassmeyer assistant pitching coach, Anthony Sanders first base coach, Tony Mansolino third base coach, Ryan Klemek pitching strategy coach and Grant Anders major league development coach. French and Passmeyer came to the Orioles last year.