The Orioles finalized their 2025 coaching staff, announcing Monday morning that they’ve named former big league catcher Robinson Chirinos their new bench coach. Chirinos announced his retirement as a player in May 2023. Baltimore also added Triple-A skipper Buck Britton to the big league coaching staff with the generic title of “major league coach.”
It’ll be the first professional coaching assignment for the 40-year-old Chirinos, who was often referred to as a future managerial candidate during his playing days. The O’s were also reported to have some interest in former Cubs skipper David Ross (like Chirinos, primarily a backup catcher during his playing days) for the role of bench coach. It’s not known whether Ross interviewed for the post or even reciprocated the interest. Regardless, the O’s will move forward with Chirinos in this role as the former catcher starts the next chapter of his baseball career.
Chirinos’ final season as a player came with the Orioles in 2022. He appeared in 67 games and hit just .179/.265/.287 in what was his age-38 campaign. For much of Chirinos’ peak, however, he was a quality bat for his position. From 2014-21, Chirinos hit .232/.327/.438 in 2147 plate appearances, good for a 104 wRC+. He hit .226/.319/.419 in his career overall, spending time with the Rangers, Astros, Rays, Cubs, Orioles and Mets along the way.
That 2022 stint with the O’s should make Chirinos a familiar face in the dugout and clubhouse. He was teammates with a large portion of Baltimore’s expected 2025 roster that year, including Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Felix Bautista, Jorge Mateo, Ramon Urias and more.
Britton, 38, should have a similar rapport with a number of the Orioles’ young players. He’s been managing their Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk for the past three seasons and managed at lower levels in the system in the three prior seasons. The older brother of former Orioles reliever Zack Britton, Buck enjoyed a nine-year minor league career himself, most of which was spent in the Orioles’ system. He’s long been viewed as a future coach and potential manager at the MLB level as well.
The Orioles’ final 2025 staff breaks down as follows: Brandon Hyde (manager), Chirinos (bench coach), Cody Asche (hitting coach), Sherman Johnson (asst. hitting coach), Tommy Joseph (asst. hitting coach), Drew French (pitching coach), Mitch Plassmyer (asst. pitching coach), Ryan Klimek (pitching strategy coach), Anthony Sanders (first base coach), Tony Mansolino (third base coach), Grant Anders (major league development coach), Tim Cossins (catching coach/field coordinator) and Britton (major league coach).
That was a quick turnaround from player to coach. Maybe this is someone to watch.
Daryl – Agreed!
Can’t go wrong with a name like Robinson ….. as long as it’s not Robinson Cano. Haha!!!
So THIS is the catching help they’re pursuing. Sly dogs.
Chirinos is the man. Well-liked by everyone when he spent a year catching pre-Adley. Love this!
Actually, it was co-Adley. My memory is doo doo.
He looks exactly like Emmanuel Rivera. Ready to see them side by side in the dugout
Can bench coaches moonlight as backup catchers
Oh my god Harrison butker has entered the chat
How’s that injury? When can you move Spencer schrader aside?
Man I forgot about Zack Britton he had probably the best season ever for a relief pitcher
Robinson Chirinos will be a welcome fit in the O’s dugout.
Robinson had a nice career as a back-up catcher. Orioles must have liked him enough during his stint with them, so there’s already a rapport with the players.
So, is this how teams get around the payroll tax? Sign guys as ‘coaches’ and then have them play as 3rd string catchers? Nice! It’s almost like back in the good ol’days where they had player-coaches. Now that’s efficiency!
Dang. With the Rays catchers last year and the low batting averages, I was hoping they would sign him.
i’ve always thought of as a good dude and fairly intuitive/smart to make his marginal skills fairly sought after at the MLB level after playing days
should say sought after at the MLB level as a player year after year despite, marginal to marginal+ skills. always seemed like he was someone’s favorite catcher, or he’d end up in a bench/managerial role before too long
That’s awesome, welcome back to Baltimore!
“Major league coach,” I love it! Coach ‘em on up!