Oriole players react to Hyde’s dismissal: ‘We know we’re capable of a lot more’

BALTIMORE—Oriole players were stunned by the news that manager Brandon Hyde had been fired on Saturday. For many, Hyde was the only major league manager they’ve had.

“It’s tough because you become close with people and you build relationships and have the love and respect for both those guys and the work you put in together,” catcher Adley Rutschman said. “And so it’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, just because you become close with people.”

Rutschman made his major league debut on Preakness Day three years ago. Hyde was let go with a 15-28 record on Preakness Day.

On Friday, Hyde suggested that Rutschman, who has been in a prolonged slump, would start to hit. He had three hits in the Orioles’ sloppy 4-3 loss to Washington.

“I can’t speak for everyone on the team,” Rutschman said. “We know we haven’t been playing our best ball and we know we’re capable of a lot more, and I think, for everyone on the team, the fact that we haven’t played our best ball is definitely disappointing because we know we can play better, and we haven’t.”

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson struck out four times on Friday night, and without much of a spring training has had a difficult start to the season.

“I hate it for him,” Henderson said. “A lot of guys know we should have won more games, so it sucks in time, but the reality is, got to go out there and continue to play baseball. Fans are going to come out and support us. We’ve got to play for them, play for the guys in this clubhouse. It sucks, but that’s just the reality of it.”

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias gathered the team together on Saturday to let them know that third base coach Tony Mansolino would be taking over the team.

“I think it’s something that you can expect with the way that things were going,” infielder Ramón Urías said. “Obviously, it hurts. I feel like we let him down. Obviously, looking forward to changing things around with Mansolino.”

Besides Rutschman, Henderson and Urías, Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano had Hyde as his first manager in the United States.

“Something like that, it was a first for me over here,” Sugano said through his translator. “Obviously, I was pretty surprised. For the others, I think they were also surprised, but at the same time, things had to change and they’re ready to go.”

Another starter, Zach Eflin, has experienced managerial changes in his career and worked with Mansolino’s father, Doug, with the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I think he’s going to do everything he can to rally the troops and go out there every single day and play hard,” Eflin said. “I don’t think necessarily anybody in this organization wanted anything to happen and it did, so we have to find a way to go out there and continue to fight and work hard and play hard and find our true identity and win baseball games.”

Outfielder Ramón Laureano also has played for other teams and managers. He came to the Orioles this season and admired Hyde.

“I just got to the ballpark and heard the news, and that’s unfortunate, because Brandon’s such a great guy,” Laureano said. “But at the end, we, as players, we’ve got to play better.”

Henderson thinks the change can be beneficial.

“We obviously haven’t played to the standards that we have shown. Doesn’t sit well with us, but like I said, we’ve just got to go out there and continue to play ball,” he said. “Still a lot of season left, so just got to go out there and continue to play.”

Notes: Buck Britton will be the interim third base/infield coach and Mitch Plassmeyer with be interim bullpen/assistant pitching coach. … Outfielder Dylan Carlson has joined the taxi squad.

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