Orioles interviewing Manto for hitting coach job

The Orioles began the process of interviewing hitting coaches today by meeting with Jeff Manto. No sense waiting until after the Thanksgiving holiday. The Orioles hired Manto as minor league hitting coordinator in November 2013, replacing Mike Boulanger in the role. He previously served as hitting coach with the Pirates in 2006-07 and the White Sox in 2012-13. The White Sox fired him following a 99-loss season. Manto was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame over the summer. Orioles fans always will remember Manto for tying a major league record with home runs in four consecutive at-bats during the 1995 season, earning him the nickname "Mickey Manto." He played nine years in the majors, including 89 games with the Orioles in '95, when he batted .256/.325/.492 with nine doubles, 17 homers and 38 RBIs in 254 at-bats. Manto has strong ties to Orioles director of player development Brian Graham. Manto played for Graham in the Indians system, and Graham hired him as minor league hitting coordinator for the Pirates while serving as farm director. "Jeff Manto would be my choice as hitting coordinator for the big league club or minor leagues or any position," Graham said back in November 2013. "I really believe in this guy. He does special things with hitters. "He was instrumental in the development of Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh, of Neal Walker, of Rajai Davis, of Nyjer Morgan. A whole bunch of hitters came through that Pittsburgh system that Jeff Manto was responsible for. "This guy is really good. Buck (Showalter) endorses him, Jim Presley endorses him and Dan (Duquette) endorsed him. They're all excited about the opportunity to add Jeff Manto." Showalter is involved in the hiring process, as he is during any coaching search. Manto may be the only internal candidate for now, but more could emerge later. B.J. Surhoff, a part-time instructor, isn't interested in the job. Neither is Brady Anderson, the Orioles vice president of baseball operations. As for external candidates, it doesn't appear that Rudy Jaramillo is currently under consideration despite serving as Showalter's hitting coach in Texas. Again, the list of candidates can change quickly. It's still early in the process. The Orioles need a replacement for Presley, their hitting coach for the past four seasons who asked to be reassigned.