After Ex-MLB Exec Fuels Speculation on Orioles’ Dugout Shakeup, $3.5M Star Fiercely Backs Brandon Hyde With Defiant Message

The Baltimore Orioles, constructed with a blend of youthful talent and experienced players, entered the 2025 season with high expectations. However, a disappointing 12-18 start has led to scrutiny, particularly directed at manager Brandon Hyde. Speculation intensified following comments from former MLB executive David Samson, who suggested on his podcast that a managerial change might be imminent in Baltimore.

Despite external pressures, the Orioles’ clubhouse has shown unwavering support for Hyde. First baseman Ryan O’Hearn stated, “We have Skipper’s back,” emphasizing the team’s unity during challenging times. “We have each other’s backs. We are a team. Teams go through bad times, bad stretches. It’s up to us to dig ourselves out of it“. The message wasn’t just clear—it was a summons cry.

The buzz started when David Samson said, “I believe that there will be a managerial change in Baltimore”, in a current episode of Nothing Personal with David Samson. “Unfortunately, that will be one of the ways that the bullpen will think it can get itself going”. You can feel it, something’s off. This isn’t the same fearless Orioles squad that won 101 games in 2023 and acquired the baseball world’s attention. Instead, what we are seeing now is a franchise weighed down by the huge expectations they earned. Samson did not mince words: the Orioles are “victims of their own young success“, a team that mastered the regular season before they were truly built for postseason — or pressure-cooker asperity. After that, a rising whisper became a headline.

In truth, Brandon Hyde has overseen the team’s rise from reconstruction to relevance. But as expectations increase, so does scrutiny. And when a team hits a cold patch, fair or not, the manager often feels the first heat. The real story, though, was not coming from anonymous whispers—it was coming from the talents who have faced the grind with Hyde.

It was not just Ryan O’Hearn. Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman supported his thoughts. They called the team a “family”—with Hyde firmly included. Rutschman said, “Absolutely”, when asked if the Orioles still stood behind Hyde. “The entire front office to the manager to the coaches to the trainers, we view this as a family and that extends everywhere, for everyone“.

Veteran Ramon Urias added context and refused to blame Hyde alone. He said, “if the blame is on anybody, it is on us, the players. We are the ones who have to be better“. In addition, Ramon Laureano, a journeyman with eight MLB seasons and six managers behind him, offered perhaps the most meaningful endorsement. Asked what makes a good manager, he said: “A great communicator, the door open, things like that“. And Hyde? “Yeah, 100%. It is pretty much like a father figure… Everything you wish for a manager”.

The Orioles’ struggles continue

Despite a good team equation, the Orioles’ bullpen has been a persistent concern throughout the 2025 season. In addition, the game against the Yankees was no exception. Cionel Pérez entered in the eighth inning and hit Oswaldo Cabrera after going to a full count. This highlighted his issues with command. Despite getting a double-play ball, Jackson Holliday’s failure to field it properly established another unearned run. In addition, Pérez’s lack of consistency has been a recurring theme, as the star has posted a 6.75 ERA over 12 innings in 2025, highlighting that the star’s troubles in the game were not just a fluke. The bullpen as a whole has been a weak place, with the team’s relievers ranking 23rd in MLB with a 4.75 ERA.

The team’s issues have been compounded by their pitching rotation, which has identified vital injuries. Former All-Star Kyle Gibson, in his Orioles debut on April 29, provided five home runs and nine earned runs over just 3.2 innings, helping the team to an 11-2 loss. His poor outing added to the team’s pitching woes, as the Orioles are now 11-18 on the season. Other injured pitchers, containing Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin and Kyle Bradish, have also hampered the team’s capability to field a reliable beginning rotation. With a lack of stability in the bullpen and the rotation, it is clear that the team’s pitching staff is struggling to fulfill the expectations that came after their 101-win season.

Despite a frustrating 12-18 beginning to the season, the team remains unified in its support for Brandon Hyde. With vital stars like Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman speaking out in his defense, it is clear that the team is aiming to pull together at the period of a rough stretch. However, the continuous struggles in the bullpen, rotation and defense raise vital concerns and unless these areas are addressed, the Orioles could continue to face issues in fulfilling the lofty expectations set for them.

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