Orioles assistant hitting coach Sherman Johnson is leaving for the White Sox to serve as minor league hitting coordinator, Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Standard reports. Kostka also reported that Tommy Joseph, another assistant hitting coach, will not return to the O’s next year. These may not be the only changes to Baltimore’s coaching staff, as Andy Martino of the New York Times reports that first base coach Anthony Sanders has been cleared to talk to other clubs.
The Orioles will have a new head coach in 2026. Brandon Hyde was fired during the 2025 season. Third base coach Tony Mansolino took over as interim manager for the remainder of the season. It was announced yesterday that Craig Albernaz will captain the club. It’s common for front-office hires to lead to coaching staff changes, as new bench owners sometimes bring in their own guys or simply have different ideas about the best way forward.
Johnson, 35, was hired last November. The 2025 season is his first in the major leagues. His playing career was brief, playing 10 major league games for the Angels in 2018. He played in the minor leagues and independents until 2022, when he transitioned to coaching. The O’s hired him in 2023 as hitting coach at Double-A Bowie. He served as minor league hitting coordinator in 2024 before being promoted to the majors. He will now return to the minors to take a role with the White Sox.
Joseph, 34, played for the Phillies in 2016 and 2017. He then transitioned into coaching, working in the minor leagues with the Mets and Giants. In 2024, he landed a major league job with the Mariners, where he was hired as an assistant hitting coach. He was hired by the Orioles for the 2025 season, but is leaving Baltimore after just one season.
Sanders, 51, played in the major leagues from 1999 to 2001. He later transitioned into coaching, working with the minor league Rockies. He worked his way to the major leagues before jumping to the Orioles to serve as first base coach for the 2020 season. It’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll be leaving the O’s, but he seems to be at least exploring the possibility.
Photos by Kim Klement Neitzel, Image Images
