Tuesday Bird Droppings: Orioles Add Intriguing New Coaches, Featuring Robinson Chirinos and Potential Hyde Successor Buck Britton

Tuesday Bird Droppings: Orioles Add Intriguing New Coaches, Featuring Robinson Chirinos and Potential Hyde Successor Buck Britton

The Orioles made significant moves to their coaching staff for the 2025 season, announcing several new faces who could help shape the team’s future. While the MLB hot stove remains relatively quiet, the O’s are adding fresh voices to their coaching ranks, including former catcher Robinson Chirinos and rising managerial prospect Buck Britton. These hires signal an exciting new direction for the team, particularly as they prepare to build on their recent success.

Among the most notable additions is Robinson Chirinos, who takes over as bench coach, replacing Fredi Gonzalez. Chirinos, who ended his 11-year playing career with the Orioles in 2022, is stepping into his first coaching role. Known for his leadership and excellent rapport with teammates, especially young players like Adley Rutschman, Chirinos is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge, particularly to the Orioles’ pitchers and catchers. His calming presence and game awareness could be exactly what the O’s need to recapture the camaraderie and team chemistry that was so strong in the 2022 season but appeared to fade in 2024.

Another key addition is Buck Britton, a familiar face in the Orioles’ organization. Britton, who has worked his way up through the minor league ranks, will join the major league staff in an unspecified role. A long-time minor league manager, Britton has worked with nearly every member of the O’s young core, having managed at Delmarva, Bowie, and Norfolk. His familiarity with the team’s rising stars makes him a natural fit, and he could even be in line to replace Brandon Hyde as manager in the future. With a solid track record of developing players and fostering winning teams, Britton’s promotion to the big leagues could be a sign that the Orioles are preparing for a seamless transition in leadership when Hyde’s tenure eventually comes to an end.

In addition to Chirinos and Britton, the Orioles will also see changes on their hitting staff, with Cody Asche taking over as hitting coach, and Tommy Joseph and Sherman Johnson filling assistant roles. These moves complete a reshaped coaching team designed to maintain the momentum built over the past few seasons.

While the true impact of these coaching changes on the Orioles’ performance in 2025 remains to be seen, the additions of Chirinos and Britton signal the team’s commitment to building a strong, cohesive staff. As the offseason progresses, the Orioles will continue to make adjustments to their roster and coaching staff in hopes of continuing their growth as a competitive force in the American League.