PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida–A familiar face in an unfamiliar uniform walked over to a group of reporters who cover the Orioles and talked to them for the first time since he was fired last May 17th.
Brandon Hyde, who led the team to two postseason appearances but who was fired after just 43 games last season, was hired last fall by the Tampa Bay Rays as a senior advisor in their baseball operations department.
The 52-year-old Hyde won the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2023 when the Orioles won the American League East, winning 101 games.
A year later, the Orioles won 91 and made the postseason as a wild-card team.
In neither season did the Orioles win a single postseason game, dropping three straight in the Division Series to the Texas Rangers in ’23 and two in a row to the Kansas City Royals in 2024.
When the Orioles started 15-28, Hyde was dismissed and replaced by Tony Mansolino, who finished the season with a 51-50 record.
Hyde, who managed 913 games, fourth most in team history, was hired by president of baseball operations Mike Elias in December 2018 and struggled through three tough seasons, losing 108 games in 2019 and 110 in 2021, including losing streaks of 14 and 19 games. He also weathered the 60-game pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The Orioles surprised baseball by winning 10 straight in the middle of the 2022 season, winning 83 games, their most since 2016, and Hyde was voted Sporting News Manager of the Year, an award he also won in 2023.
Hyde, who was wearing a Rays T-shirt and uniform pants, said he doesn’t know new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz and has had just brief exchanges with Elias since he left the team.
The Orioles Hyde watched on Thursday were very different than the 2025 team. Only starting pitcher Zach Eflin played for Hyde in regular-season games. Seven of the team’s coaches are new, and he mentioned greeting third base coach Buck Britton before the game.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Hyde said. “I’m so grateful for being here right now. I had six-plus great years there, great relationships with a lot of people over there. It’s just a strange feeling, kind of the way it happened in May, not seeing people for a while, but it’s great to see these guys.”
The Orioles were decimated by injuries last season and looked flat. Hyde paid the price for the team’s disappointing start.
“It was just a struggle,” he said. “I wish I could have done more and would have done more. It started in spring training with injuries, lost a bunch of guys in spring, then the first series of the year we lost a few key players and then never got going. It was a challenge from Day One.
“I wish I would have done more to help in certain ways. It was tough from the very beginning.”
Hyde retreated to his Venice, Florida home, and his new job allows him a lot more home time. He’ll often be at Rays home games at Tropicana Field and will travel to the minor leagues to work with those managers as well as their analysts and professional scouts.
He’s working closely with manager Kevin Cash and president of baseball operations Erik Neander
“It’s been amazing. This is an unbelievable group,” Hyde said. “They have been so welcoming to me and included me in everything. For them to have me and do the role I’m doing, I’m sure excited about it, and appreciative for them bringing me in here.”
There are many more good memories in Baltimore than unpleasant ones.
“For two-plus years, we were one of the best teams in the league,” Hyde said. “I’m always going to be super proud of those teams, but even proud of the ’22 team. We were supposed to win 50-something games. We won 83, We came out of nowhere. What we did against our division in those years with the resources we had and how well we played for those three years.”
Hyde didn’t get another managing job last offseason, and he would like to do it again.
“I really enjoyed it. I loved managing,” Hyde said. “I look back very fondly on those six-plus years. I’m so appreciative of Mike to give me that opportunity. I will always be grateful for him to give me that chance. I’ll always appreciate the relationship we had.
“It’s something I’d like to do. I’m hoping someday the situation comes along where it’s a good fit and someone gives me the opportunity.”
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