Long time Orioles Minor League coach had a memorable 14-year run in Birdland
As a Bowie Baysox fan, you truly knew that it was game time when you saw skipper Kyle Moore emerge from the clubhouse and make his way down to the field. Number 4 glared off his uniform, and he always had his coach’s helmet, his lineup card, and a cup of coffee in hand. He usually strolled to the dugout with his head looking straight forward to the dugout as he locked in for the game. Yet, he still made sure to look into the crowd and acknowledge the fan, usually me, shouting “go get ‘em today, Kyle!”
Moore had this same exact routine in Birdland for many years, fourteen to be exact. Whatever the role he took on, whether he was playing, coaching, or managing, everyone knew that it was game time when he emerged from the clubhouse and locked it in.
Fourteen years. Kyle Moore was a true pioneer of the Orioles’ organization.
He did everything he could to contribute to the Orioles and to the players that he coached. Upon his playing career in the organization, his coaching journey saw him take on many different coaching roles. He was a player/coach, a hitting coach for Low-A Delmarva and the now-departed Class-A Frederick Keys, a manager, and much more. Whatever he did, he did his respective part and helped dozens of players reach the big leagues and to their fullest potential.
Current big leaguers including Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, Joey Ortiz, and DL Hall got the opportunity to play for Moore at some point during their Minor League career. Other recent top prospects including Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo, Connor Norby, John Rhodes, Dylan Beavers, and Chayce McDermott have also gotten to play for Moore in recent years.
He had some great moments in Birdland as well, though 2019 was probably his biggest accomplishment. His Shorebirds were named the Minor League Team of the Year after they posted a franchise-record 90 wins (90-48) and clinched a playoff berth. He marked that season "by far the best year I've had as a coach."
"We won, I had my family there with me the whole time, we went to the playoffs...it's going to be hard to top this one," he said on MiLB.com.
He was always great to me, especially these past two years while he managed Bowie, and I became a local with my 16-game ticket packages. He was always great to all the fans that he met.
I remember when I was young, and he was with the Keys. I would have all his past and present baseball cards ready for him to sign. I would approach him, and he would smile as he saw my impressive collection of his own baseball cards.
“Whoa! What are you going to do with all these cards man?” he would say to me.
“I’m gonna keep them!” I’d anxiously and excitedly respond. He would sign every single one of them, and I still have every single Kyle Moore autographed baseball card in my binder to this day.
Now, Moore departs for a new role in the Chicago Cubs organization, ending his long but incredible 14-year run with the Birds. However, true fans of the Orioles and the farm system will not forget his name anytime soon. Us fans will remember Kyle for a long time. We will remember his dedication to the organization, his dedication to The Oriole Way, and his dedication to teaching the game and converting ballplayer from good to great.
It’s guys like Moore that deserved to be recognized and acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to the game and their players. In Moore’s case, he deserves to be recognized for how long he remained loyal to the Orioles.
Kyle Moore was an Orioles pioneer.
Thank you, Kyle, and best wishes in the Windy City.
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