When you go to an Orioles Minor League baseball game, these are the coaches that you can expect to see at each level. Some coaches remain in their same roles from the previous year, however the Orioles did shuffle quite a few coaches around the organization. Here's how each coaching staff will shape out in 2024:
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Buck Britton will return for his third season as the Tides’ manager. Britton, the brother of former Orioles All-Star closer Zack, led the Tides to one of their most historic seasons yet in 2023. The Tides finished 90-59 under Britton and clinched first place in the International League. They claimed the International League championship and decided that they were not done there, as they went on to win the entire Triple-A championship.
Britton, who has been widely acknowledged for his player development and leadership, will look to take the Tides back to the top again with more prospects and younger talent on the way. He coached several of the Orioles’ top prospects whom ended up making their big league debuts in 2023, and he anticipates to see several more of his top prospect players do the same this season. He will be assisted by pitching coach Justin Ramsey (6th season with Orioles), fundamentals coach Ramon Sambo (18th season with Orioles), and development coach Joshua Rodrigues (3rd season with Orioles), all of whom return to their roles from the previous season.
The only newcomer to Britton’s coaching staff is University of Maryland alumnus Mike Montville, who arrives as the hitting coach after serving as the assistant hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in Worcester.
Double-A Bowie Baysox
Roberto Mercado will take over as Bowie’s manager. Mercado earns a promotion from High-A Aberdeen after spending the past two seasons at the helm of the Ironbirds. He led the Ironbirds to a 78-54 record in 2022, helping them clinch a first half championship in the South Atlantic League and a playoff berth. He had a total record of 144-117 with Aberdeen. Mercado was named the Orioles’ 2022 recipient of the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development award and has been recognized throughout the organization for his work in the Orioles’ farm system.
Most of Mercado’s coaching staff from Aberdeen will be traveling with him to Bowie this season. Those names include fundamentals coach Chase Sebby, development coach Billy Facteau (who had the same role with Bowie in 2022 under Moore) and pitching coach Austin Meine. Hitting coach Josh Bunselmeyer joins Bowie from Low-A Delmarva.
Mercado’s promotion means that previous manager Kyle Moore is out. It appears that his 10-year run as a coach/manager in the Orioles’ farm system has come to an end, as the team did not announce a reassignment for Moore anywhere in the organization.
Moore spent the previous two seasons as Bowie’s manager, putting together a 135-140 record during that time. He most notably led the (then High-A) Delmarva Shorebirds to a 90-48 record in 2019, helping them secure a postseason spot in the South Atlantic League and a nomination for the best team in Minor League Baseball. He had been in the Orioles’ system since 2010, playing for two seasons and coaching the rest of the way.
Fundamentals coach Tim DeJohn, hitting coach Sherman Johnson, and pitching coach Forrest Hermann have been reassigned from Bowie to different roles in the organization.
DeJohn remains a fundamentals coach but in the Florida Coast League. Johnson moves from hitting coach to an upper-level hitting coordinator role, while Hermann becomes a lower-level pitching coordinator.
High-A Aberdeen Ironbirds
As Mercado departs Aberdeen for Bowie, Felipe Alou Jr. will make the jump from Delmarva to Aberdeen in his place. Alou, the brother of former Major League icons Felipe Sr. and Moises, spent the previous two seasons as the Shorebirds’ manager and is entering his third season as a Minor League manager for the Orioles. The Shorebirds went 56-74 under Alou in 2023, finishing fourth in the Carolina League. Several players stood out and played incredibly well for Alou, though, including pitcher Deivy Cruz, catcher Samuel Basallo, outfielder Stiven Acevedo , and 2023 1st round outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Hitting coach Zach Cole will return for a third season as Aberdeen’s hitting coach. Ryan Goll, who spent 2022 with the Ironbirds, returns to Aberdeen as a development coach. He served in the same role with Bowie in 2023 and will also serve as the Offseason Camp Coordinator. The Ironbirds will gain pitching coach Jordie Henry from the Florida Coast League Orioles and have also plucked fundamentals coach Charles Bolden from his head coach position at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds
Collin Woody has been promoted to a managerial position for the first time. With Alou Jr. heading to Aberdeen, Woody will assume managerial duties after serving as a fundamental coach for the FCL O’s. Joining him from Florida is pitching coach Andy Sadoski and hitting coach Christian Poulsen. Fundamental coach Daniel Fajardo returns to the same role with the Shorebirds in 2023. Fajardo was a catcher in the Orioles’ system for seasons, reaching as high as Class-A Frederick (before the Orioles parted ways with the Keys).
Collin Murray has departed the Shorebirds and the Orioles’ organization entirely, accepting a new pitching coach role in the Detroit Tigers’ system.
Read more details about the Orioles’ Minor League coaching assignments here.
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