Tony Mansolino never imagined his first shot at managing in the big leagues would come this way. The 42-year-old stepped in as the Orioles’ interim manager on Saturday under difficult circumstances, following the dismissal of Brandon Hyde after a disappointing 15-28 start to the 2025 season. Mansolino, who had served as Baltimore’s third-base coach since 2021, will hold the position for the remainder of the year.
“This isn’t how you want it to happen,” said Mansolino after the Orioles fell 10-6 to the Nationals in his managerial debut. “Brandon did a great job, and we’re going to miss him. I wasn’t expecting to be in this role now. I haven’t managed since Triple-A in 2019, and even then, I didn’t think I’d be here this soon maybe in another ten years, if I stuck with it.”
Despite the tough transition, Mansolino remains committed to the team and is determined to turn things around. Saturday’s game was a rough start, with starter Kyle Gibson giving up six runs in the first inning and exiting with a 16.78 ERA through four starts. A late four-run rally, including a three-run homer by Jackson Holliday, wasn’t enough to erase the early damage.
With a 15-29 record and 14 games below .500 their worst mark since 2021 the Orioles face a steep climb. Still, Mansolino remains optimistic.
“I definitely believe we can get back in the mix,” he said. “The first step is reaching .500. We’ve played at a high level before, like in 2023 when we won 101 games. One of those Wild Card spots might not even require 95 wins. We have time to work our way back.”
Mansolino is respected in baseball circles and comes from a baseball family his father, Doug, coached in the majors for 15 years. Tony previously managed at every level of the minors with Cleveland from 2016 to 2019.
Players were understandably upset by Hyde’s exit, feeling accountable for their underperformance. But they’re rallying behind Mansolino, who has built strong relationships in the clubhouse.
“He’s going to do great,” said pitcher Kyle Gibson. “It’s a tough spot to be thrown into, but I think he’ll be fun to play for.”
Veteran outfielder Cedric Mullins added, “He connects well with the team. He’s seen what Hyde did and can make changes if he sees fit. We’ve got his back.”
Though no team in Orioles history has made the playoffs after starting 15-29, Mansolino isn’t discouraged.
“We have to stay steady and not overreact,” he said. “There’s still a lot of baseball to play, and we’ll keep pushing with urgency and effort every step of the way.”
