The Baltimore Orioles have announced some major changes to their coaching staff for the 2025 season, sparking excitement among fans and analysts alike. With four new coaches being brought on board, the organization is clearly aiming for improvement after last season's performance.
One of the most notable changes is the addition of Robinson Chirinos as the team's bench coach. At 40 years old, Chirinos is stepping directly from the field to the dugout, having last played for the Orioles during the 2022 season. He participated in 67 games and recorded 220 plate appearances with stats of .179/.265/.287/.552. While those numbers don't tell the whole story, they do highlight how he transcended the traditional measures of success to become a pivotal figure within the locker room.
Chirinos' prominence within the Orioles organization cannot be understated. Manager Brandon Hyde has routinely praised Chirinos' impact on the team's culture, especially during the transformative 2022 season, which saw the Orioles increase their win total from 52 to 83. This improvement marked the team's first winning season since 2016 and represented the largest single-season gain since 1989, when the O's improved by 33 wins.
"He had huge impact on our clubhouse, huge impact on our players," Hyde said. "He changed the mindset of our guys the second half of 2022, just because of the way he is. He is an incredible speaker with the players. He is really likable and knows the game extremely well."
Chirinos is not the only face new to the coaching ranks. Buck Britton, who spent the last several seasons managing the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, Norfolk, will join the major league staff. Britton has managed many young talents currently on the roster, including Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, and Gunnar Henderson, which should ease their transitions to higher levels of play.
Hyde expressed his enthusiasm for Britton's addition, stating, "I’m excited to add Buck to the staff. He’s had a lot of success in Triple-A with players on our roster now. He’s very well liked and has great energy."
There are also changes to the hitting coaching personnel. Cody Asche, who previously served as the team's offensive strategist, has been elevated to lead batting coach. He will be joined by Tommy Joseph, Seattle's former assistant hitting coach, and Sherman Johnson, the existing upper-level hitting coordinator. This new trio is charged with rejuvenation of the Orioles' offense, which struggled significantly during the latter part of the 2024 season. Notably, their performance plateaued during the Wild Card Series, where they managed to score just one run over two games.
"We scored a ton of runs, especially in the first half, and much of it stemmed from our ability to hit home runs," Hyde said. "We need to see improvement, especially with the injuries we faced during the second half. Losing key players like Jorge Mateo and Jordan Westburg — right-handed bats who were major factors — set us back considerably. But as our players develop, I believe we will see increased production from the lineup overall."
The departure of Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, who served as co-hitting coaches for the last three seasons, paves the way for the new hitting coaches to bring fresh perspectives and strategies. Fuller has moved on to become the director of hitting for the Chicago White Sox, and Borgschulte is the lead hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins.
Hyde emphasized the importance of innovation within coaching staff selections, stating, "I think you’re always looking to improve, whether it’s roster-wise or coaching staff-wise. There are some guys who were on our staff who are getting great opportunities, and I’m excited for them. It’s all part of the business — sometimes guys change organizations, but the work they did for us was tremendous."
Chirinos has expressed his eagerness to embrace his new role and continues to communicate with his former teammates turned coaches and players. His relationship with the pitchers he caught during his playing career will add depth to his new position. Hyde is optimistic about Chirinos’ influence on the team going forward.
"He knows the game extremely well. He’s caught many of our pitchers, so there is already rapport from both sides of the ball," Hyde said. "It’s going to be Robbie’s first coaching experience, but I believe he’s going to be excellent for us. He was already acting as a coach during his playing days, especially with young players, and he helped change the culture for us. I’m excited to have Robbie onboard."
This restructuring of the coaching staff shows the Orioles' commitment to fostering talent and building one of the best collaborative environments possible as they aim for continued progress, potentially competing for postseason success.
Also worth noting is the sad news about Len Johnston, longtime Orioles minor league manager and coach, who recently passed away at the age of 95. Johnston was awarded the Herb Armstrong Award for his outstanding service to the team and its development, leaving behind a legacy of dedication within the organization.
