For Orioles fans speculating about changes after the team’s offensive struggles in the second half and a one-run postseason showing, the verdict is now clear: Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, the co-hitting coaches, will not return next season. Borgschulte has already accepted a role as the Minnesota Twins’ hitting coach, while it was confirmed last week that the Orioles would not be bringing Fuller back.
The Orioles’ disappointing plate approach often came under scrutiny, making changes seem inevitable. Despite ranking fourth in runs scored (786) and second in home runs (235), Baltimore’s hitters struggled with plate discipline, registering a 7.9% walk rate that ranked just 19th in MLB.
Their aggressive approach was particularly problematic with runners in scoring position, where they frequently chased pitches out of the zone instead of making contact that could advance runners or score runs. This issue was magnified during the Wild Card Series, with a memorable low point being Colton Cowser’s strikeout on a pitch that broke his hand, symbolizing the team’s poor situational hitting.
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The Orioles posted a .741 OPS with men in scoring position in 2024, a significant decline from nearly 100 points higher the previous year. Fuller and Borgschulte had previously overseen a successful 2023 offense that consistently delivered in clutch moments, suggesting the 2024 struggles weren’t solely due to coaching. It’s hard to assess exactly what coaches contribute behind the scenes or how they impact individual players.
Nonetheless, given the disappointing end to the season and some key players, like Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday, who either regressed or didn’t make expected progress, the Orioles may benefit from bringing in new hitting coaches with fresh perspectives to help develop their young talent moving forward.
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