Asche spent only one season as the O’s top hitting coach, promoted to the position after serving as offensive strategy coach during the 2023 and ‘24 campaigns. The 35-year-old had been in the organization since ‘22, when he served as upper-level hitting coordinator in the Minors.
The Orioles’ offense underperformed in 2025, which was part of the reason for the club’s 75-87 record and last-place finish in the American League East. Despite having a solid position-player core in place, Baltimore had a .235 average (tied for 24th in MLB) and a .699 OPS (21st).
Sanders had been the O’s first-base coach since 2020. The 51-year-old also worked closely with the outfielders during his time in Baltimore.
New managers will often be involved in building a coaching staff, and that will be the case with Albernaz, as president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Tuesday that it will be a collaborative process moving forward.
“We definitely want the ability for him to put his stamp on the staff,” Elias said. “I think a big part of our hire and knowing the talent that we’re bringing into the organization with a guy like Craig Albernaz is we want him to apply his trade and have an impact in the clubhouse, on the field, with the way that our team prepares, trains and competes, and part of that is choosing some staff members around you.
“We’re collaborating together on it. But it’s something that I want him to be able to shape, and we’ll handle that business the next few weeks the best we can.”
It is not yet known whether any coaches will be returning from the Orioles’ 2025 staff. The group also included pitching coach Drew French, interim bullpen coach/assistant pitching coach Mitch Plassmeyer, interim third-base/infield coach Buck Britton, pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek, Major League development coach Grant Anders and senior advisor John Mabry.
