Orioles finalize '26 coaching staff under Albernaz
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BALTIMORE -- After six weeks of putting together their coaching staff for the 2026 season, the Orioles have finalized the group that will work under Craig Albernaz in his first year as manager.
Baltimore announced its 2026 coaches on Friday, with each of the names having previously been reported to be part of the staff. Albernaz said at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month that the O’s could have room for one additional hire, but that did not come to fruition.
Here’s a look at the full Orioles coaching staff for 2026:
Bench coach: Donnie Ecker
Hitting coach: Dustin Lind
Assistant hitting coach: Brady North
Pitching coach: Drew French
Assistant pitching coach: Mitch Plassmeyer
Pitching strategy coach: Ryan Klimek
First-base coach: Jason Bourgeois
Third-base coach: Buck Britton
Bullpen coach: Hank Conger
Infield coach: Miguel Cairo
Field coordinator/catching coach: Joe Singley
“I think it's going to be a great fit for everyone,” Albernaz said at the Winter Meetings. “Our goal for our coaching staff is to have great coaches, great teachers, great communicators, but more importantly, great people. I think all the coaches I brought in -- and the coaches that have been here, our pitching group and also Buck -- they're great people. And so, for us, we just needed great people around our players to support them.”
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It’s common for new managers to bring in a mostly fresh set of coaches, and that was the case during Albernaz’s search. Only four are back from the 2025 staff -- French, Plassmeyer, Klimek and Britton.
Albernaz was impressed by the pitching group, which is why he kept that trio intact for 2026.
“They're studs. They're elite,” Albernaz said. “It's been refreshing to come in, because you don't really know the staff when you come in, the people that are there. But with Frenchy and Mitch and Ryan, those guys are as elite as they come. The best part about all three of those guys is we have the same philosophies and views on this, where everything we do is for the boys. Everything we do is for the players to make sure that they're heard, that they're a strong voice in their development process, and they feel the same way.”
The Orioles will look to bounce back from a 75-87 showing and a last-place finish in the American League East by making it to the postseason for the third time in four years in 2026.