The Baltimore Orioles dismissed manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday, aiming for a fresh start to revive one of the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball.
Hyde, who led the Orioles through their rebuild and guided them to the playoffs the last two seasons, had a rough start this year. After Saturday’s 10-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, Baltimore’s record dropped to 15-29, placing them 10½ games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
Tony Mansolino, the third-base coach, will serve as the interim manager, the team announced. The Orioles also let go of field coordinator Tim Cossins.
“Ultimately, as head of baseball operations, I take responsibility for this poor start,” Orioles GM Mike Elias said. “Sometimes that means making tough changes to change direction. I appreciate Brandon’s dedication and passion, especially for getting us to the playoffs and winning the AL East. We wish him and his family well.”
With a struggling offense, one of the worst pitching staffs in the league, and average defense, the Orioles have regressed across the board this season. Hyde, 51, had faced questions about his future after Baltimore was swept in last year’s wild-card series by Kansas City. The year before, after a 101-win season, they were swept in the division series by Texas.
Although Elias had expressed confidence in Hyde in early May, the team lost 10 of the next 13 games, including four straight. Outside of key players like Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, and Ryan O’Hearn, the offense has been weak, further hampered by injuries to Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser.
Pitching has been particularly poor. With a depleted rotation and injuries to starters Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin, Baltimore’s 5.33 ERA is the worst in the AL and third worst in MLB. After losing ace Corbin Burnes to free agency, the Orioles failed to adequately replace him, despite a $100 million-plus offseason payroll.
Players were told about Hyde’s firing during a meeting led by Elias roughly four hours before Saturday’s game.
“Honestly, it was surprising,” starting pitcher Cade Povich said. “It’s not something you expect to hear first thing in the morning.”
Outfielder Ramon Laureano added, “It’s unfortunate because Brandon’s a great guy. We players need to perform better — we’re the ones with the bats and gloves.”
Despite increased spending under new owner David Rubenstein, the results have been disappointing. Tyler O’Neill, signed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal, is hitting just .188. Charlie Morton, on a $15 million one-year contract, has a 0-7 record with an 8.35 ERA. Catcher Gary Sanchez has been injured for weeks, and reliever Andrew Kittredge has missed the season due to injury. The only bright spot has been right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who signed for $13 million for one year.
“As sometimes happens in baseball, change is necessary,” Rubenstein said. “We believe this is one of those moments.”
Hyde was hired in 2019, during Baltimore’s rebuilding phase after multiple 108-loss seasons. The arrival of prospects Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson in 2022 helped turn the team around, culminating in their 101-win season and playoff appearances.
Baltimore regressed slightly in 2024, winning 91 games and losing key players Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander to Toronto. While top prospect Jackson Holliday is showing promise, Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo have yet to establish themselves.
Mansolino, 42, has experience managing at several minor league levels before joining Cleveland’s coaching staff in 2019. He was hired by Baltimore as their third-base coach ahead of the 2021 season.