Orioles name minor league staffs for 2019

The Orioles have made changes to their minor league staffs for 2019, and they include making a popular former Oriole pitcher a manager for the first time.

Alan Mills, who was the Orioles’ bullpen coach for the last two seasons, will serve as Gulf Coast’s manager when its season begins after the First Year Player Draft in June. He worked for five seasons as a pitching coach in the Orioles’ system.

Last week, Gary Kendall was announced as manager of Triple-A Norfolk after eight years at Double-A Bowie. Buck Britton, who managed Low-A Delmarva last year, will replace Kendall with the Baysox.

Ryan Minor returns as manager of High-A Frederick. Kyle Moore, who filled in for the injured Kevin Bradshaw at Short-Season Aberdeen, moves up to replace Britton at Delmarva. Bradshaw, who will also coordinate minor league spring training, will be back with the IronBirds.

Mike Griffin will be at Norfolk for his 11^th consecutive season as pitching coach. Butch Davis is back for his second year as the Tides’ hitting coach. Ramon Sambo, who has been in the Orioles’ organization for 13 seasons, moves up to Norfolk as field coach to replace Jose Hernandez, who is now with the Orioles.

Bowie’s pitching coach will be Kennie Steenstra. He’s in his third season with the Baysox. Keith Bodie, who managed Frederick in 2016 and 2017, will again be Bowie’s hitting coach. Bodie is in his 37^th season as coach or manager in pro ball.

The Baysox’s development coach is Chris Conway, who was assistant pitching coach at Coastal Carolina last year. Conway pitched in the Chicago Cubs organization from 2014-16.

Two coaches who were with the Shorebirds in 2018 join the Keys this season. Pitching coach Justin Lord and hitting coach Bobby Rose will assist Minor. Adam Bleday, a former Houston Astros minor leaguer, is Frederick’s development coach.

Justin Ramsey, who has been a college pitching coach since 2005, will be Delmarva’s pitching coach. Ramsey spent the last four seasons at Nova Southeastern University as pitching coach. Another former college coach, Matt Trate, will be the Shorebirds’ hitting coach. Trate was associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Goldey-Beacom College in Pike Creek Valley, Del. Pat Leyland, who worked with Bowie last year, is Delmarva’s Development coach.

Bradshaw’s pitching coach at Aberdeen will be Robbie Aviles, who had been with Rockland Peak Performance since 2017 after spending six years in the Cleveland organization. Longtime Harford Community College coach Tom Eller is the IronBirds’ hitting coach, and Jack Graham, son of former Orioles minor league director Brian Graham, will be Aberdeen’s development director.

Joining Mills at Gulf Coast are longtime pitching coach Wilson Alvarez, in his seventh season, and hitting coach Milt May, in his 10^th season. Former Gulf Coast manager Carlos Tosca will be the field coach as well as the minor league’s outfield and baserunning coordinator.

Chris Holt is the new minor league pitching coordinator, replacing John Wasdin, who is now the Orioles’ bullpen coach. Minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto, catching coordinator Don Werner and infield coordinator Dave Anderson return.

Also returning are Scott McGregor (coordinator, pitching rehabilitation), Dave Schmidt (coordinator Florida and Latin America pitching), Dave Walker (minor league medical) and special instructors Mike Bordick, Ramon Martinez and B.J. Surhoff.