Orioles finalize 2025 coaching staff with two surprise additions

The Baltimore Orioles have finalized their 2025 coaching staff, hiring first-time coach and former Oriole catcher Robinson Chirinos to serve as bench coach next to manager Brandon Hyde, and Buck Britton, a rising star in the Orioles coaching ranks, as “major league coach.”

The hiring of Chirinos came as quite the shock when announced, but a very pleasant one. The 40-year-old former major league catcher played 11 big league seasons during his major league career, with his final season coming with the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. 

Chirinos appeared in 67 games with the Orioles during the 2022 season, ultimately giving way to a rookie backstop named Adley Rutschman. The two ended up becoming inseparable during Adley’s rookie season, having their lockers next to each other in the clubhouse, going over game plans and comparing notes with each other before games. 

The relationship was clearly a beneficial one, as Rutschman quickly transformed into one of the top catchers in all of baseball after hitting a combined 48 extra-base hits with an .807 OPS in his rookie campaign. 

Robinson Chirinos and Buck Britton have joined the 2025 Orioles coaching staff

Brandon Hyde saw the potential for Chirinos to impact the game of baseball beyond his playing days, saying “He really could be a coach. He’s so smart when it comes to the game and understands hitters and pitchers. He has a lot of experience.” Turns out, Brandon Hyde was right.

The hiring of Chirinos could be beneficial in more ways than just working closely with the pitchers and catchers. Hailing from Venezuela, Chirinos could also serve as a role model and influence for the upcoming international talent in the Orioles system. Outside of Samuel Basallo (who will greatly benefit from working with Chirinos), much of the top international talent in Baltimore may be another year or two away from making an impact at the major league level, but it's something to consider.

A larger effort was placed on putting Spanish-speaking coaches in the lower levels of the minors as the initial group of the Mike Elias/Koby Perez era signing classes started matriculating to full-season ball, and the impact was critical in aiding not only in the on-field development, but off the field development as well.

As for Buck Britton, the 38-year-old former Orioles draft pick, brother of Orioles legend Zack Britton and rising star in the coaching ranks, finally gets his shot in the major leagues.

Britton has worked his way up the system as a manager over the last few years, with stops at Delmarva and Bowie before spending the last three seasons as manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Norfolk won the 2023 International League and Triple-A titles under Britton, who also took home manager of the year honors.

“Major League coach” is a broad title with unknown duties at the moment, but the Orioles haven’t been afraid to get creative with coaching titles and roles to get the coaches or instructors they want in the major league clubhouse. What is more certain is the impact Britton will have now that he’s on the major league side of the game. 

Beloved by his players and seen by them as a real “player’s coach”, Britton will have the opportunity to work with many familiar faces, including Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, Jackson Holliday, and more. 

After a series of memorable call-up videos with Britton being the one delivering the good news to rising prospects, hopefully someone the camera was turned on to him when he received the news of his big league call-up.