For Orioles supporters who wondered if heads would roll after the Orioles offense stalled for much of the second half and scored only one run in the playoffs, it appears we have an answer.
Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, the co-hitting coaches who oversaw this year’s poor offensive, will not be returning to the coaching staff next season. Borgschulte accepted a position as hitting instructor with the Minnesota Twins yesterday, rejoining his previous organization, and Orioles reporters revealed last week that Fuller would not be returning.
It seemed obvious that the Orioles would make some changes to fix the lineup’s frequently frustrating plate approach, which had cost them dearly in the postseason. While the Birds scored the fourth-most runs in the majors (786) and hit the second-most home runs (235), they appeared overly aggressive at the plate, with a walk rate of 7.9%, ranking 19th in MLB.
Those erratic at-bats were particularly noticeable with runners in scoring position, when Orioles hitters would get themselves out by chasing pitches out of the zone, frequently failing to make contact when a fly ball or a well-placed grounder would have scored a run. In moments where the pressure should have been on the pitcher, Orioles hitters appeared to panic. The most memorable image of the 2024 season may be Colton Cowser striking out swinging at a fastball that shattered his hand in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. We wish Colton the best of luck with his recovery, but the at-bat exemplified the Orioles’ terrible approach in key circumstances throughout the season.The O’s posted a .741 OPS with men in scoring position this season, a drop of nearly 100 points from the previous year.
Of course, Fuller and Borgschulte were also the Orioles’ hitting coaches in 2023, when the team had a dynamic, productive attack that consistently delivered in crucial situations. So the guilt for 2024 cannot be totally thrown at their feet, unless they just forgot everything they had taught in prior seasons. Fans have no notion what coaches are doing behind the scenes or how they interact with specific players.
Still, considering how unpleasant the season ended and some noteworthy hitters who either regressed or failed to advance — most notably, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday — it’s certainly not a bad idea for the Orioles to find a new set of eyes to work with their young talent.
