BALTIMORE — This wasn’t how Tony Mansolino ever imagined stepping into the role of a Major League Baseball manager. At 42 years old, Mansolino found himself unexpectedly named interim manager of the Orioles following the dismissal of Brandon Hyde, whose tenure ended after a disappointing 15-28 start to the 2025 season. It was far from a dream scenario — not for him, nor for the team, nor for those close to the situation.
Previously serving as Baltimore’s third base coach since 2021, Mansolino has now been handed the reins for the remainder of the season. Despite the new opportunity, he admitted that it comes with mixed emotions.
“This isn’t an exciting moment — it’s actually really difficult,” Mansolino said candidly after the Orioles fell 10-6 to the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards in his managerial debut. “We’re going to miss Brandon in so many ways. I really believe he did a fantastic job here. You don’t really picture yourself in this seat. I wasn’t a former Major League player — I wasn’t even a particularly good Minor League player. I managed in Triple-A back in 2019, but it’s been a while.”
Mansolino continued, “I thought maybe, if I stuck around for another 10 years or so, something like this could happen. But not now — not like this.”
While clearly loyal to his former boss, Mansolino also expressed a deep love for the Orioles organization and a determination to help right the ship. He’s spent five years working with the current players and is committed to giving everything he has to help turn the season around.
Unfortunately, Saturday’s game followed a now-familiar pattern. Starting pitcher Kyle Gibson surrendered six runs in the first inning and lasted just two-thirds of an inning, ballooning his ERA to 16.78 across four starts. Despite a late four-run rally in the ninth inning — including a three-run homer by rookie Jackson Holliday — the Orioles couldn’t recover from the early blow. The loss dropped Baltimore to 15-29, placing them 14 games below .500, their worst mark since finishing 52-110 in 2021.
Baltimore also continues to struggle when falling behind early, holding a 4-21 record when their opponent scores first.
Still, Mansolino remains optimistic about the team’s chances to salvage the season.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he believes the Orioles can still compete. “The first step is getting to .500. That has to be our short-term goal. My mind was racing a bit today thinking, ‘What’s the first thing we need to fix?’ A few seasons ago, in 2023, we played at a pace that was over 40 games above .500. I think we won 101 games that year.”
He continued, “If we can get back to something close to that, we can put ourselves in the mix. Realistically, one of the Wild Card spots isn’t going to require 95 wins this year —it’ll probably be less. So we’ve got a couple of months to climb back. Step one is getting even.”
Mansolino is no stranger to leadership in baseball. His father, Doug Mansolino, was a coach for several MLB clubs from 1992 to 2007. Tony himself managed at every level of the Minor Leagues within the Cleveland Guardians’ system between 2016 and 2019, building a strong reputation as a dedicated and knowledgeable baseball mind.
Players inside the Orioles clubhouse expressed disappointment over Hyde’s dismissal, many admitting they felt partly responsible for the team’s struggles that led to the move. At the same time, they’ve welcomed Mansolino’s promotion with respect and optimism.
Veteran pitcher Kyle Gibson acknowledged the awkward timing of the change but showed faith in the new manager. “Nobody wants to get thrown into this kind of situation, but I think he’s going to do awesome,” he said. “He’s going to be a lot of fun to play for.”
Center fielder Cedric Mullins, the longest-tenured player on the roster, echoed that sentiment. “He’s got a good relationship with the guys,” Mullins said. “He’s been watching what Hyde has done closely over the years. If he wants to make any adjustments, that’s his call. But we’re with him —we’ve got his back moving forward.”
With a long road ahead and a lot of ground to make up, Mansolino’s tenure begins under pressure. But with the respect of the clubhouse and a fresh voice at the helm, the Orioles are hopeful that a mid-season turnaround is still within reach.
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