He wasn’t the star player everyone was talking about back in college. He has had no big league career and no flashy headlines in his name. What he had instead was grit, heart, and a leadership quality that triggered when it mattered the most. And now the Baltimore Orioles have handed the team’s reins to this very man. It’s none other than Tony Mansolino!
The Orioles are hoping that the 42-year-old California native, and now their interim manager, can breathe some life into the team. They, after all, had a rough outing, starting 15-28 under Brandon Hyde. So the team, not wanting their ship to sink fast and in the summer itself, took the bold step to put their faith in their third base coach by removing Hyde.
Mansolino, in his first conference, did address the pressure of the job. “There’s a ton of urgency. We’ll continue to push as hard as we can.” But then this sense of urgency is no new thing for him.
Credit: MLB.com
The urgency is the same energy that helped reshape a college baseball program still fighting to get the recognition. See, back in 2003, during a make-or-break game that propelled Vanderbilt into the Southeastern Conference tournament, a group of players had exploded into a celebratory pile. And on top of that was Mansolino himself.
That moment was captured in a photo, too, and Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin is someone who still keeps this picture close to his heart. Corbin told the Baltimore Sun, “I’m going to show the team that picture again tomorrow before we leave because, No. 1, I want to let them know about what kind of guy Tony was, but No. 2, how important this tournament was to growing Vanderbilt baseball at the time when we really didn’t have any tradition.” After college, Mansolino had spent six seasons in the minors and then shifted to coaching. He managed at every level and brought a positive locker room vibe.
And this is exactly what the Baltimore Orioles need—a steady hand. Sure, his first two games didn’t produce any wins, but expecting quick results is not smart now. It just might take some time to steady this ship, and Orioles may be looking at a certain rookie for help.
Baltimore Orioles fans are rallying behind a 35-year-old rookie
Coming into the 2025 season, many thought the Baltimore Orioles would be a serious contender for a better record in the American League. But reality is sour, and they are stuck with a 15-31 record. They are at the bottom of the table, and Charlie Morton has not been the veteran they envisioned he would be. But here is the deal: the season is not over yet. And now there is another bright spot they can lean on. That’s their right-handed rookie pitcher, Tomoyuki Sugano.
Sugano has quietly been the calm in the storm for the team. At 35 years old, he might not be the typical rookie in MLB, but don’t let that fool you. MLB’s first Rookie of the Year poll dropped, and Sugano landed at No. 5 in the American League. That’s impressive, right? Especially considering the rough road that Baltimore has been on. Also, this poll comes from a 34-member panel that votes for who they believe will win in each league.
Jason Foster from MLB said it best: “Not much has gone right for the Orioles in 2025, but Sugano’s performance has definitely been a highlight.” And there is no lie because with a 3.08 ERA in nine starts, Sugano has been a steady force in the chaotic team. Plus, his 1.03 WHIP leads all the AL rookies, too. Baltimore’s pitching staff, unfortunately, has been its weak link, and that’s a major contributor to their losing streak. But for now, Sugano is showing promise, and fans can still hold on to some hope.
So now, two unlikely heroes—a 35-year-old rookie and a 42-year-old interim manager—are carrying the Orioles’ hopes to turn things around. Do you think they’ve got what it takes?
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