Orioles finalize 2022 coaching staff; González, Hernández shift roles; Wiedman, Bucko new strength coaches

The Orioles finalized their 2022 coaching staff, adding the previously reported co-hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller and changing roles for two holdover coaches.

Fredi González, who had held the title of major league coach, becomes the bench coach while José Hernández, who had been the assistant hitting coach, shifts to major league coach.

Borgschulte and Fuller, who are both 31, have not coached at the major league level. Borgschulte was with the Minnesota Twins organization for the last four seasons and spent 2021 as their Triple-A Saint Paul hitting coach. Fuller was the Double-A Bowie hitting coach and Orioles’ full season hitting coordinator in 2021.

González, who has 10 years of major league managing experience with the Braves and Marlins, is in his third season with the Orioles. The Orioles didn’t have an officially titled bench coach in Brandon Hyde’s first three seasons with the team, but González functioned in that role without the title.

Hernández, who has been with the Orioles’ organization for 13 seasons, is one of two coaches from Hyde’s first staff. He was major league coach in 2019 and the assistant hitting coach under Don Long in 2020 and 2021.

The other returning coaches: Tim Cossins,  major league field coordinator/catching instructor; Darren Holmes, assistant pitching coach; Chris Holt, pitching coach, director of pitching; Tony Mansolino, third base coach; and Anthony Sanders, first base coach. Cossins is the only other coach from Hyde’s initial staff. Holmes and Sanders are in their third seasons while Holt and Mansolino begin their second.

Bullpen catchers Ben Cathcart and Joel Polanco also return.

Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel, and assistant athletic trainers Mark Shires and Patrick Wesley return. They’ll be joined by Adrian Pettaway, the team’s massage therapist, and Chris Poole, assistant to the head athletic trainer. Kyle Corrick is the physical therapist.

Poole, who is in his 10^th year in the organization, worked in health and safety protocols the past two seasons, and Corrick was the team’s rehabilitation coordinator for the past three seasons.

Trey Wiedman, who was Triple-A Norfolk’s strength and conditioning coach, will be the team’s new strength coach, and Justin Bucko is the assistant strength coach. He spent five years in the Reds’ organization after serving as Houston’s assistant strength and conditioning coach for three seasons.

According to The Athletic, the Orioles are also adding Brendan Fournie as their director of baseball strategy. Fournie comes from the Astros.

Bill Wilkes, who had been manager, advance scouting operations, is now manager, major league strategy. Ben Sussman-Hyde is now manager, major league video/run creation strategist. He had been the coordinator, major league video/advance scouting. Ryan Klimek has been promoted from coordinator, major league scouting to manager, pitching strategy.

Longtime visiting clubhouse manager Fred Tyler, whose father, Ernie, was the legendary umpire’s room attendant, has been promoted after 37 years to home clubhouse and equipment manager. His brother, Jim, had once been the home clubhouse manager.

Andrew Guinart, a longtime home clubhouse attendant, is now visiting clubhouse manager.