The Orioles announced their 2024 coaching staff this morning. That included three new hires: the previously reported addition of Drew French as pitching coach, Mitch Plassmeyer as assistant pitching coach, and Grant Anders as major league development coach.
Plassmeyer is the brother of left-hander Michael Plassmeyer (who signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh last week). Mitch Plassmeyer, 28, gets his first look on a big league staff. He had spent the better part of the last two years as a minor league pitching coordinator for the O’s. Before joining the professional ranks, he coached at the University of Missouri. Anders, 27, is also a first-time MLB staffer. He has worked in player development with Baltimore for four seasons.
They join a staff that remains essentially unchanged on the offensive side. Brandon Hyde is back for a sixth year at the helm. Fredi González returns as bench coach. Co-hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller continue to work alongside offensive strategy coach Cody Asche. Tony Mansolino and Anthony Sanders are the base coaches, while Tim Cossins (field coordinator) and José Hernández (major league coach) are also returnees.
French and Plassmeyer join pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek in the run prevention realm. Prior pitching coach Chris Holt is returning to an overhead organizational role as director of pitching, while former assistant Darren Holmes departed and joined the Cubs as bullpen coach.
“We will have a coaching staff. That is all.”
New coaches sell tickets!
Plassmeyer is a diversity hire, O’s playing catch up with the Marlins. I mean, what are his qualifications for a major league coaching job? lol
White dudes from MO are diversity hires?
@ Macgromit – Are you prejudiced against white guys from the heartland?
Unless the dude shows up in drag, I don’t think there’s any reason to suspect he’s a diversity hire. Regardless, the Os are not a team that seems to waste money on coaches or players that don’t contribute. If they bring someone in as a coach or a player it’s because they think they provide real value to the team. Brett Phillips being the one bizarre exception. That’s how you win 101 on a shoestring budget.
Regardless, the Os are not a team that seems to waste money on coaches…that don’t contribute.
Really? Why replace last years Pitching Coaches if they were contributing?
Yes. Missouri is poorly represented in the Bigs.
Jesus
LOL!!
They should put a team there.
Are they trying to wait out Boras? Cheap Orioles gonna let stud stars either while they tape together a rotation around Rodríguez & Bradish… Baltimore fans will be lucky if they sign Ryu at this rate (not a terrible idea for a No 4 arm tho)
Relax. It’s January
Groundhog Day is coming fast though!
Ryu would be a better signing than Stroman to the Yanks. Need someone to eat the innings that Gibson ate in ’23 so the youth can season some. Ryu plus maybe a middle reliever to help shoulder the innings to keep the vital bullpen from running out of gas. Any word on how Tate is doing? O’s could use his high leverage innings.
MacG, yep, Tate is back. Signed for under 2 mil. Excited to see what’s left in the tank. He’s that seasoned vet that’s not afraid to take the mound as a set up guy.
Orioles don’t need any of the front end free agents. I’d much rather they extend their young core players and make a trade using some of the guys who are blocked (they have too many infield and outfield prospects) for another starter while simply signing a free agent innings eating veteran on a short term deal.
Rotation should include
1. G-Rod
2. Bradish
3. Trade for Cease / Bieber / etc
4. Means
5. Kremer
And beyond that, they have Tyler Wells, Irvin, and could sign an innings eater.
Cease or Bieber indeed. Os FO has gotta be talking to Guards and Sox. Haggling over prospects and how many based on Cease as a 2 yr rental and Bieber a one year are the battle grounds?
Beware the Ides of Kimbrel.
love for the O’s to sign Stephenson but after Jordan Hicks 4 yr contract on LA.., any chance of a 2 or 3 yr contract to Baltimore are pretty unlikely.
I think a 3 year deal is possible for Stephenson. Hicks was unusually young for a FA reliever. Stephenson is a full 3 years older and doesn’t have a long track record/
BStrow, betcha Elias would love to have Stephenson for 3 yrs too!
Donny Downer here. My gut says until further notice owner Angelos is only accepting one year contracts.