Orioles Fire Manager After Disastrous Start to 2025 Season
The Baltimore Orioles have fired manager Brandon Hyde following a 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday night, capping a tumultuous start to what was expected to be another contending season. The Orioles, who entered 2025 with high hopes after back-to-back playoff appearances, now sit at 15-28, 13 games under .500, and are already 10 and a half games behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. The decision to part ways with Hyde was announced Saturday afternoon. It marks the end of his seven-year tenure, which began with a painful rebuild and peaked with a 101-win campaign just two seasons ago.
Hyde, 51, took over the Orioles in 2019 and endured some of the franchise’s darkest years, including a 110-loss season in 2021. However, as top draft picks matured, he guided Baltimore through a dramatic turnaround. The Orioles stunned the league with 101 wins in 2023, claiming their first AL East title since 2014, and followed with 91 victories and another playoff berth in 2024. Despite regular-season success, postseason frustration dogged Hyde’s tenure; the Orioles failed to win a single playoff game under his leadership, getting swept in both 2023 and 2024.
This season, expectations were sky-high, but the Orioles have struggled in nearly every facet. The offense has sputtered despite talent like Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins, while injuries to key players have exposed the team’s lack of depth. The pitching staff, weakened by injuries to Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin, owns the third-worst ERA in MLB at 5.31. Friday’s loss to the Nationals, in which Baltimore outhit Washington 14 to five but left 15 men on base and went just four-for-15 with runners in scoring position, proved to be the breaking point. The frustration was palpable throughout Camden Yards, as the Orioles’ inability to capitalize on opportunities summed up a season gone awry.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias addressed the move in a statement: “As the head of baseball operations, the poor start to our season is ultimately my responsibility. Part of that responsibility is pursuing difficult changes in order to set a different course for the future. I want to thank Brandon for his hard work, dedication, and passion all these years, and for returning the team to the playoffs and winning an AL East Championship. His many positive contributions to this organization and to Baltimore will remain, and we wish he and his family the best.” Orioles owner David Rubenstein echoed that sentiment, calling Hyde “a man of great character” and expressing his gratitude for his leadership during the rebuild and resurgence.
Third base coach Tony Mansolino will serve as interim manager as the Orioles look to salvage the remainder of the season. While the team’s playoff hopes appear dim, the front office remains committed to the young core that fueled their recent rise. The search for a permanent manager will begin immediately, with the organization emphasizing the need for a new voice to “spark a turnaround” and guide a talented but underachieving roster back to contention. For now, the Orioles face a crossroads, hoping that a change at the top can halt their slide and restore momentum to one of baseball’s most promising franchises.
