O’s fill out coaching staff

Team names former catcher Chirinos bench coach, promotes Britton

Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, left, shares sentiments with catcher Robinson Chirinos during the final day of the 2022 season at Camden Yards. Karl M. Ferron/Staff

Three years after spending his final MLB season with the Orioles, Robinson Chirinos will begin his coaching career in Baltimore.

The Orioles named the former catcher their new bench coach Monday and announced their full coaching staff for the 2025 season, completing their offseason hires to form a new-look group under manager Brandon Hyde. Triple-A manager Buck Britton, the older brother of former Baltimore closer Zack Britton and a mentor to several of the club’s young stars, will take on the title of major league coach to round out the staff.

Baltimore also made official the promotion of Cody Asche to hitting coach and the additions of Tommy Joseph and Sherman Johnson as his assistants. Johnson, who has been a coach in the Orioles’ organization for the past two years, will continue to work as the upper-level hitting coordinator in addition to his duties on the major league staff.

Chirinos, 40, played parts of 11 MLB seasons with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Orioles. Though only a .226 hitter at the plate, Chirinos developed a strong reputation for his defense and handling of pitching staffs. He proved to be a valuable veteran presence in Baltimore’s clubhouse and received an invitation to return as a guest coach during spring training this past year.

He replaces the departed Fredi González, who had been part of Hyde’s staff since 2020.

Britton, 38, was a 35th-round draft pick of the Orioles in 2008 who returned to the organization as a coach of the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in 2017. He has since worked his way up through their minor league system, taking over as skipper of Triple-A Norfolk in 2022 and leading the affiliate to the International League championship the following year.

He coached many of the Orioles’ top prospects during their rise to the majors, including Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo. Henderson had Britton pitch to him in the 2024 Home Run Derby during All-Star Game festivities in Texas in July.

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