The Baltimore Orioles officially added veteran baseball figure John Mabry to their coaching staff following a rocky start to the 2025 season. As reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Mabry, a retired outfielder and experienced MLB coach, joined the Orioles as a senior advisor on interim manager Tony Mansolino’s staff.
The move followed the Orioles’ decision to fire manager Brandon Hyde and field coordinator Tim Cossins after a disappointing 15-28 start. Mansolino, formerly the team’s third base coach, stepped in as the interim manager while the organization began restructuring its leadership.
Mabry, 54, brought more than a decade of coaching experience to Baltimore. He previously served as the Cardinals’ hitting coach from 2012 to 2018 and worked under Mark McGwire as assistant hitting coach after St. Louis’ 2011 World Series title. He and then-manager Mike Matheny were dismissed just before the 2018 All-Star break.
Known for preaching patience and maintaining a big-picture mindset, Mabry helped the Cardinals stay among the National League’s leaders in walk rate during his tenure, though offensive consistency was sometimes an issue. After his time in St. Louis, he joined the Kansas City Royals in 2019 and later the Miami Marlins from 2022 to 2024, working alongside fellow former Cardinals Skip Schumaker and Jon Jay. The trio was let go as part of Miami’s coaching overhaul last October.
In Baltimore, Mabry stepped into the role formerly held by Cossins, serving as a senior advisor with responsibilities in catching instruction and field coordination. His addition bolstered a coaching staff that also featured first-year hitting coach Cody Asche, bench coach Robinson Chirinos, and second-year pitching coach Drew French.
Mabry’s Delaware roots—just a short distance from Baltimore—reportedly made the Orioles an appealing landing spot.
His arrival also reunited him with several former Cardinals now on the Orioles roster, including Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, Andrew Kittredge, and Matt Bowman.
As a player, Mabry spent the majority of his 14-year MLB career with St. Louis, finishing with a .281/.335/.411 slash line, 53 home runs, and 272 RBIs. His coaching experience and familiarity with young talent were seen as key assets for a Baltimore club looking to reset and capitalize on its promising core after a turbulent start to the season.
