Third base coach Tony Mansolino has been named interim manager
The Brandon Hyde era in Baltimore is officially over, and few are surprised it came to this. In what’s becoming one of the most predictable traditions in baseball, another season gutted by an owner’s refusal to spend ends with the firing of the manager expected to clean up the mess.
On the heels of a disastrous 15-29 start to the season, the Orioles fired their manager on Friday, ending a seven-year tenure that included one division title, two postseason appearances, and a 2023 AL Manager of the Year award. The move follows a steady unraveling of what once looked like the league’s most promising young team.
Third base coach Tony Mansolino has been named interim manager. He’s been with the coaching staff since 2021 and now inherits the tough task of salvaging a season that’s spiraled quickly out of control.
Brandon Hyde becomes the third manager to be dismissed this season, following the Pirates’ Derek Shelton and the Rockies’ Bud Black.
Two years ago, Hyde led Baltimore to a 101-win breakout and looked to be at the helm of a rising AL East powerhouse. Instead, the club regressed to 91 wins last season, still a playoff berth, but they were quickly swept in the Wild Card round by the Royals. And this year has been a freefall.
Baltimore has dropped six straight and sits in the AL East basement, 10.5 games back and sporting the worst team ERA (5.31) in the majors. Injuries have certainly played a role, but so has a glaring lack of pitching depth, one that points squarely at the front office.
Brandon Hyde’s firing may be the headline, but GM Mike Elias didn’t avoid scrutiny either. Speaking to reporters, Elias took responsibility for the team’s underperformance, admitting that roster decisions have come up short.
The offseason began with the loss of ace Corbin Burnes, who walked in free agency after a stellar 15-9, 2.92 ERA campaign. His replacement were a pair of struggling veterans in Charlie Morton (8.35 ERA) and Kyle Gibson (13.11). Injuries have further exposed the rotation’s fragility, with Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin, and Grayson Rodriguez all missing time.
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On the offensive side, it hasn’t been much better. Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Colton Cowser has been out with a fractured thumb. Tyler O’Neill has battled neck and shoulder issues. Jordan Westburg is dealing with a strained hamstring. The once-potent lineup has thinned out fast.
Brandon Hyde wasn’t the only one shown the door. The Orioles also parted ways with longtime field coordinator and catching instructor Tim Cossins, one of Hyde’s closest confidants, who had joined him in Baltimore after years together in the Cubs organization.
The front office hasn’t indicated whether Mansolino is a short-term patch or a candidate for the permanent role. What’s clear, though, is that the Orioles’ next hire will take over a team with undeniable talent and undeniable dysfunction. How that balance tilts going forward may define the franchise’s next era.
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Hyde leaves Baltimore with a 421-492 record (.461 winning percentage). His tenure included three winning seasons, but not a single postseason victory.
The rebuild is long over. The pressure is back on. And now, Baltimore’s search begins, not for prospects, but for answers.
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