Westburg on Asche: "I’m happy that he’s still around and I’m pumped for him”

The restructuring of the Orioles’ hitting staff begins at the top with Cody Asche’s bump from offensive strategy coach. A familiar face and voice are put in a new role within a new design.

No more co-hitting coaches in Baltimore. Asche is the lead guy, with Tommy Joseph and Sherman Johnson serving as assistants. Joseph had the same job with the Mariners last summer and Johnson was given additional responsibilities beyond upper-level hitting coordinator.

Asche is entering his third season in the organization. Ryan Fuller left the Orioles to become the White Sox’s director of hitting, and Matt Borgschulte went back to the Twins as their hitting coach.

“I expect it to work similarly (to last year),” Asche said in December on WBAL-Radio. “Tommy and Sherman are both people that I hold a very high amount of respect for. I trust them very, very much. Sherman obviously has a ton of familiarity with the organization and our players, so that transition will be smooth. Bringing in Tommy, he’s got the personality to fit right in with our crew. The players are going to love him.

“But I think at the end of the day we all have this mindset: that our No. 1 goal and the people that we are accountable to is the players and their careers. So with that mindset, it just helps everything transition very smoothly.”

Asche brings his experiences as a major league infielder and outfielder for five seasons. Players like him. The two years as offensive strategy coach enabled him to gain their respect and trust.

“Asche’s just a great hitting coach, great guy, super good with all the players and everyone’s individual needs as far as hitting goes, just because it’s so tough to be a hitting coach,” catcher Adley Rutschman said last week at the Birdland Caravan.

“He does a great job of adapting to each guy’s needs and really shifting how he’s able to interact, talk and work with each guy.”

“Man, I love Asche,” said infielder Jordan Westburg. “He saw me a ton since being with the organization. I remember being in instructs during the fall when he was going through the hiring process and really enjoying what he had to say, the input he was giving, the experience he brings getting to play at the highest level, as well, and bringing that, too. You can’t put a price tag on that. I’m happy that he’s still around and I’m pumped for him.”

Much of Asche’s previous work was done behind the scenes, but his visibility should increase along with his responsibilities.

“I think Cody has been a big voice for us the last couple years in the cage and in hitters’ meetings,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “A guy who’s played in the big leagues, has gone through some adversity. Just really, really well respected by our players. Knows our players really well. It was kind of an easy transition for us to have him slide into this role, and he’s off to a really good start.”

Staff changes also include Buck Britton moving up from Triple-A Norfolk manager to major league coach, a position occupied in the past by José Hernández.

“Not surprised at all,” pitcher Chayce McDermott said of Britton’s promotion. “I mean, he really deserved it. He was great with us my whole time here. He’s great for the guys, and he’s been with Jackson (Holliday) and Gunnar (Henderson) and Adley and all them this whole time. It’s gonna be nice for them to have him up there.”

* A few more leftovers from the Caravan:

Henderson was asked if there’s anything new for him this year.

“There’s a lot of experiences that come with every year, so I’d love to be able to take those in and really just learn as much as I can about each and every year, just to learn about how to get better in every aspect of the game.”

Ryan Mountcastle was asked about his offseason.

“Took a couple weeks off after the year just to decompress, and once I started going back to the gym again, doing stuff, felt good and ready to go.”

McDermott was asked what he learned from his one major league start.

“(Drew) French and I have talked about it a lot this offseason, just kind of pitch sequencing and to trust my stuff. And trusting myself with what I want to throw. So it was a big takeaway, it was a nice lesson for me, and I was glad to have it.”

* The Orioles signed reliever Dylan Coleman, 28, to a minor league deal. Coleman broke his own news on his Instagram account.

Coleman has made 97 appearances, including one start, over parts of four seasons with the Royals and Astros and registered a 3.84 ERA and 1.367 WHIP in 93 2/3 innings. He's averaged 5.6 walks and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Coleman appeared in only one game for Houston last season but posted a 2.78 ERA in 68 games with Kansas City in 2022.

The Padres drafted Coleman in the fourth round in 2018 out of Missouri State University. He was the player to be named later in a 2020 trade with the Royals and was dealt to the Astros in December 2023. Houston released him in August.