Reviewing Orioles' recent coaching history and thoughts on what's next

The Orioles have removed three coaches from their staff. That’s one more than they did after winning 101 games and the division title in 2023, returning Chris Holt to an exclusive role as director of pitching, and dismissing assistant pitching coach Darren Holmes.

The trend continues of making changes under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde. They’ve been together for six seasons and the staff hasn’t stayed the same, though it came really close in 2023.

Hirings were made later than usually for the 2019 season after Hyde’s hiring a month earlier. You have a good memory if you can recite them. Only Tim Cossins remains as major league field coordinator/catching instructor, though he’s relocated from the dugout to the bullpen.

More emphasis was placed on experienced veterans like pitching coach Doug Brocail, hitting coach Don Long and first base coach/outfield instructor Arnie Beyeler. José Flores was named third base coach/infield instructor, replacing Bobby Dickerson after entire staff had been retained for 2018.

Howie Clark stayed as assistant hitting coach but was gone by 2020. John Wasdin was promoted to bullpen coach after spending the past two years as minor league pitching coordinator. José Hernández was major league coach, changed titles later, went back to this one and lasted until Friday.

González was hired as major league coach for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with Hernández shifting to assistant hitting coach. Darren Holmes arrived as bullpen coach, a job he held with the Rockies for five seasons, and Anthony Sanders replaced Beyeler.

Flores, a close friend of Hyde’s, didn’t make it onto the 2021 staff. The Orioles hired current third base coach/infield instructor Tony Mansolino. Holt replaced Brocail, whose contract wasn’t renewed. This was the first real indication of how the Orioles would approach instruction under the new regime.

Holmes’ title changed to assistant pitching coach. The Orioles ditched “bullpen coach,” but they still didn’t have a bench coach. That ended in 2022 with González, necessitating Hernández’s switch back to major league coach.

Fuller and Borgschulte arrived as co-hitting coaches, with the Orioles joining other clubs in implementing a duel system. Borgschulte came from the Twins’ organization and spent 2021 as Triple-A St. Paul’s hitting coach. He remains with the Orioles.

That brings us to 2023 and everyone returning. However, Cody Asche was promoted from upper-level hitting coordinator to offensive strategist, essentially giving the Orioles a third hitting coach.

An immediate reaction to the current openings is that Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton could be a candidate to fill one of them. They also could seek a bilingual coach now that González and Hernández are gone.

Britton’s contract expires at the end of the month and he’s close with the young hitters who passed through Norfolk. He’s also gained the respect of other teams in the majors and could move on, which would leave the Orioles with another task.   

A major league coach is like a super-utility player. Hernández rarely had a reason to speak with the media, but here’s his explanation of his role from earlier this summer.

“Right now, this year I’m helping Tony Mansolino with the infielders, doing ground balls, throwing BP and just helping everybody. (Anthony) Sanders with the outfielders, I help him, too. Just pretty much a little bit of everything.”

Mike Montville just completed his first season as Norfolk’s hitting coach. He served as the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox’s assistant hitting coach for three seasons and worked as a hitting coach in the Arizona Fall League. Perhaps he’s under consideration. Perhaps the Orioles want someone with extensive major league experience. We don’t know.

Josh Buselmeyer moved up from Single-A Delmarva to Double-A Bowie this year as hitting coach, a role he’s also held in the Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League.  

The Orioles’ offense produced the most home runs in the majors in the first half and second-most for the season. The .452 slugging percentage before the break ranked first and .765 OPS second. The 474 runs scored were second in the American League. The decline in the second half was more dramatic in some areas than others. The 312 runs scored remaining second in the AL, but their .692 OPS in August was 23^rd in the majors and the 125 runs scored in August and 108 in September ranked 15^th in the majors.

The pitching should have gotten them into the Division Series, but scoring one run in two Wild Card games led to the sweep. And the decision on Fuller will lead to questions later after the club announces its new staff.

González brought 10 years of managing experience to the dugout. It's going to be interesting to learn whether the Orioles go the experienced route again or find less value in it with Hyde entering his seventh season.

I wouldn't expect a quick resolution. The offseason remains in its youthful stage.