Orioles Retain Mike Shildt for Minor League Instruction

The Baltimore Orioles will retain Mike Shildt as director of on-field education for the upcoming season. The former major league manager stays with the organization after a period of restructuring its front office and instructional staff.

Shildt initially joined the club last offseason as the upper-level coordinator of instruction. He took this role after stepping down as the manager of the San Diego Padres. An industry source confirmed that the Orioles have decided to keep him in this new position.

This decision aligns with the team's focus on fundamentals. Manager Craig Albernaz emphasized this area after the team underperformed during its first season. Shildt helped form a group that included minority owner Cal Ripken Jr. to address defensive issues last year.

Shildt has a long history in the game. He managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 through 2021. Following that tenure, he served as a coach for the San Diego Padres for two seasons. He then managed the Padres during the 2024 and 2025 seasons before leaving the position.

The hiring process began with Matt Blood, the former director of player and staff development. Blood reached out to Shildt to improve the baseball skills of the club's minor league players. Blood was let go in September during a front office reshuffling.

President of baseball operations Mike Elias appointed Jared Banner as the new general manager last month. Banner now oversees player development and coaching efforts. He evaluated the current setup and determined that Shildt should remain in his role.

It is not yet clear if Shildt will spend more time with the major league team next year. The composition of Albernaz's coaching staff has not been announced since the season ended.