Just days ago, new Orioles GM Mike Elias said he had narrowed down a list of candidates for the team's vacant manager position and had a good idea of who he wanted to hire. Now, it appears the position has been filled by former Chicago Cubs bench manager Brandon Hyde.
Reporter Ken Rosenthal says his sources told him that Hyde was hired to be the O's 20th manager in team history Tuesday evening. Hyde was with the Cubs as a bench manager from 2013-2018 with a stint as first base coach in between. He was also bench coach for the Florida Marlins from 2010 to 2012 and was even the team's manager for one game when interim manager at the time Edwin Rodriguez resigned and Jack McKeon was hired the following day.
The 45-year old Hyde had a brief professional playing career in the late 90s but never made it to an MLB roster.
Other names rumored to be in the mix for consideration for the job were Nationals bench coach Chip Hale, Diamondbacks VP of player development Mike Bell, Royals catching coach Pedro Grifol, Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond and Mariners bench coach Manny Acta.
Hyde will have his work cut out for him entering the 2019 season as the Orioles are entering a full rebuild. No doubt he will need to play a hand in the development of a vast pool of young talent after the team has now dumped 14 of 25 players on its Opening Day roster.
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