The Orioles are set to add Cody Asche to their major league coaching staff, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. He’ll take on the role of offensive strategy coach. The remainder of Brandon Hyde’s staff is expected to return for 2023, Kubatko adds, meaning the O’s are just adding an extra position.
It’ll be the first big league coaching work for the 32-year-old Asche. A University of Nebraska product, he’s a former fourth-round draftee of the Phillies. Asche reached the majors with the Phils midway through the 2013 campaign and spent the next few seasons in a fairly regular role bouncing between third base and the corner outfield. Asche spent part of the 2017 season with the White Sox, then played the next two years in the upper minors. His playing career wrapped up with the cancelation of the minor league campaign in 2020.
Asche began his post-playing endeavors in 2021, serving as a Low-A hitting coach in the Philadelphia organization. He joined the Orioles this year, spending this past season as a hitting coordinator in Baltimore’s upper minors. He’ll quickly make a jump to the MLB coaching ranks, while Anthony Villa takes over additional responsibilities as the organization’s minor league hitting coordinator, per Kubatko.
Hyde, a potential AL Manager of the Year candidate, will be back for a fifth season at the helm. Fred González returns as bench coach, while the O’s will again deploy co-hitting coaches Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte with Chris Holt as pitching coach.
Offensive strategy coach? Isn’t that the hitting coach’s job?
I think he works more on when to bunt , what to look for in certain hitting situations , recognizing fielder positions etc where hitting coach more on tinkering with the swing , plate appearance videos etc.
O’s do bunt a lot.
But I think it’s more to change the strategy as the shift goes away. Not just for batter to hit the ball into the open space, but for any runners on base to work in sync with them.
Talk has been about more steal attempts. But I think hit-and-run’s are coming back as well. The Orioles are a young, bright, cutting-edge organization. Think they’re getting a leg up here.
Funny thing is that Mullins has gotten away from bunting for hits. It was an effective strategy for him in 2020 but has not employed it much the past two years. Not sure whether that is because of defensive positioning or his desire not to try to get on base by that method.
Kodyashi! (Wait, he ISN’T Japanese???)
It’s pronounced like the tree.
no, it’s not
Phillies legend
This guy could hit great but his defense was the icing on the cake.
He was never better than Rick Schu or Bobby Dernier.