Asche tabbed as Orioles' hitting coach (source)

BALTIMORE -- A familiar face will be taking over the reins of the Orioles’ offensive staff in 2025.

Baltimore is set to promote Cody Asche as its next hitting coach for next season, according to a source, after the 34-year-old spent the past two years as the team’s offensive strategy coach. The club has not yet confirmed the move.

Tommy Joseph, who spent last season as the Mariners’ assistant hitting coach, is expected to be hired to serve in the same role for the O’s, per multiple sources.

The Orioles are also planning to hire Sherman Johnson, their upper-level Minor League hitting coordinator, as a third hitting coach, according to a source.

Asche and Joseph were teammates in Philadelphia during their playing days. Asche was a third baseman/outfielder for the Phillies from 2013-16, while Joseph was a first baseman during the ‘16 and ‘17 seasons.

The Orioles had a pair of co-hitting coaches the past three seasons, with Matt Borgschulte and Ryan Fuller serving in the roles. Borgschulte was hired to be Minnesota’s hitting coach on Oct. 22, while Fuller was hired to serve as the director of hitting for the White Sox.

Asche’s coaching career began in 2021, when he served as the hitting coach for Single-A Clearwater in the Phillies’ organization. He was then hired by the O's to serve as upper-level Minor League hitting coordinator in ‘22, before then becoming offensive strategy coach.

Joseph spent only one season in Seattle. The 33-year-old was a hitting coach in the Mets’ organization for two seasons -- with Single-A St. Lucie in ‘21 and Double-A Binghamton in ‘22 -- before joining the San Francisco organization as High-A Eugene hitting coach in '23.

Johnson was Baltimore’s upper-level Minor League hitting coordinator for the 2024 season after previously serving as the Double-A Bowie hitting coach for one year. The 34-year-old was a Minor League player from 2012-21, then played in independent ball in ‘22.

The Orioles’ lineup is filled with talented young players, centered around Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser and others. However, their offensive inconsistency was an issue for much of the second half of last season.

Baltimore scored only one run while getting swept in two games by Kansas City in the American League Wild Card Series. The only offense was a Cedric Mullins solo homer in Game 2.

Asche’s familiarity with the O’s hitters could help as he tries to get even more out of the group in 2025. He, Joseph and Johnson will attempt to get more consistency from an offense that ranked second in MLB in home runs (235) and fourth in runs (786) in ‘24 despite its streakiness down the stretch.