Conger brings playing, coaching experience to Orioles’ bullpen

SARASOTA—Craig Albernaz’s first Orioles coaching staff features three returning pitching coaches — Drew French, Mitch Plassmeyer and Ryan Klimek — and a former major league catcher, Hank Conger.

The 38-year-old Conger played seven seasons as a catcher with the Los Angeles Angels, Houston and Tampa Bay. Albernaz became acquainted with Conger while with the Rays and spent the last four seasons with the Minnesota Twins where he served at times as first base coach, catching and assistant bench coach.

Conger will be the Orioles’ bullpen coach, succeeding Plassmeyer, who replaced Tim Cossins, who was fired along with manager Brandon Hyde last May. Plassmeyer will return to the dugout in his role as assistant pitching coach.

“Coming to a new team, the biggest thing is just understanding the players, understanding their arsenals,” Conger said. “What I’m most excited about is just the stuff coming out of the ‘pen. Seeing the stuff that’s playing and the intensity coming into spring training is probably what I’ve been most excited about.”

Conger will spend time working with new Orioles’ closer Ryan Helsley, who has yet to pitch. Helsley threw a live batting practice on Friday, and Conger was impressed.

“He’s looked great so far in camp,” Conger said. “The velo’s exactly where it needs to be. Slider’s always been the slider, so I just think it’s a matter of coming into a new environment, understanding what his strengths are, and then just really kind of building upon the spring and taking that into the season.”

Conger has meshed nicely with the returning pitching coaches.

“It’s no different than when I first came over to Minnesota,” he said. “I think everyone understands that the pitching and catching is an extension of each other.”

Albernaz, who was eager to add Conger, was a catcher when he played as well as a bullpen coach for San Francisco.

“I’m partial to a former catcher being in the bullpen because I did it,” Albernaz said. “Stephen Vogt did it. Kevin Cash did it before they became managers. You have that perspective, the catching perspective, know who’s coming up, managing the game without being the manager while being in the bullpen to prep those guys, and he’s integrated awesome without pitching coaches.

“He’s very in tune with what’s going on. The future’s bright for him. Hank can do whatever he wants in this game. To have someone like that in the bullpen is really a blessing. That’s why we’re so excited about our coaching staff. “

The Orioles have a catching instructor, Joe Singley.

“We build off each other,” Conger said. “I’m learning from Joe. Joe’s learning from me. It’s a unique job. [Albernaz] has been in the same position. Having a catcher’s perspective in different categories and talking to each other, there’s always going to be something that’s a little different than what you’ve heard before, maybe some numbers that translate into the game or the way you’re setting up.

“I like the fact that we have multiple guys with the background of catchers being able to see different views with the catchers.”

Conger, first base coach Jason Bourgeois and infield coach Miguel Cairo are the only coaches with major league playing experience.

“The game has changed so much,” Conger said. “The way we view players, we coach players, we approach players, I think that’s all really changed drastically over the past 10 years.

“Finding a way to build and push the envelope with certain things, especially if you see things trending in a good direction or even a bad direction for us. I do think it’s really important as a former player if you can sit back and understand what these guys are going through, mentally and physically in the clubhouse, every single day and hanging out with their teammates. I do think that helps.”

Conger has been impressed with young starters Nestor German, Trey Gibson and Levi Wells.

Wells’ bullpen sessions have intrigued Conger.

“Watching his mentality and his attitude about how he approaches pitching is kind of exciting,” Conger said. “There’s a lot of guys actually, but to give you a couple of names, those guys have been like, ‘wow,’ in camp.”

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