When mediocrity overstays its welcome, change isn’t just expected, it’s overdue. After seasons of flirtation with promise and collapses under pressure, the Baltimore Orioles have finally shown Brandon Hyde the door. As fans refresh X, hoping for a miracle, the baseball universe already knows who’s circling the vacancy. According to one MLB insider, a familiar face — and former award winner — might be preparing for his next act in orange and black.
The Orioles have started to shift things after a start to the season they would want to forget. The latest move they made to change things was to sack their manager, not to mention the 2023 AL Manager of the Year. Filling the interim position, Tony Mansolino stepped up, but even then, things have not changed. As they realized Mansolino might not be a long-term solution, they’re back in the market, looking for new candidates, and one name has caught the ear of all the fans.
In a recent post put out by the MLB Network, insider Jon Heyman revealed the candidate list. Heyman says there are three candidates at the moment, but the most interesting one is Skip Schumaker: “Skip Schumacher, I mean, he’s gonna be a candidate everywhere, but he seems to be the heir apparent in Texas.”
Schumaker’s managerial rise has been swift and impressive. In his debut year of 2023, he led the Miami Marlins to 84 wins, a 15-win jump from the previous season. He brought energy, discipline, and a sharp in-game mindset that transformed Miami’s dugout. His leadership earned him the NL Manager of the Year, a rare feat for a first-year skipper.
.@JonHeyman mentions three names as top candidates to take the Orioles’ managerial opening #Birdland | #MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/A40o8HpoBg
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 29, 2025
Now, as he’s available, the Texas Rangers are setting their sights on him as the natural heir to Bruce Bochy, a manager-in-waiting with proven chops. Now, it’s a matter of the first move. If Baltimore can strike first, offering autonomy, a young 90+ win core, a long-term vision, along with a promise of building a legacy, not inheriting one, can flip the script. With the right pitch, Camden Yards could be Schumaker’s next canvas.
With Texas playing the long game, Baltimore has a rare chance to make the bold play now. Schumaker isn’t just a name on a shortlist — he’s the kind of manager who shifts cultures, not lineups. The Orioles can either act like a team ready to win or keep rehearsing for someday. The clock’s ticking, and baseball’s worst-kept secret is out. Charm City needs more than charm — it needs Skip.
But, as the Orioles crane their necks in the open market, fans can’t help but ask the lingering question: What about Buck Showalter?
Buck Showalter doesn’t want to get near the Orioles
Baltimore’s baseball prodigal son is politely sitting this one out. After steering the Orioles through their most competitive stretch in years, Showalter isn’t lining up to don the managerial hat again, despite a fan base that’s still dreaming in orange and black. Sometimes, even heroes prefer the sidelines when the game changes — or maybe they just remember the weight of the dugout better than anyone else.
When asked about returning to manage the Orioles, Showalter was refreshingly clear. He said, “I don’t have the answers,” emphasizing each situation’s unique challenges. Showalter declined to play the role of armchair coach, respecting those currently in charge. His words carried the weight of experience, wrapped in humility and honesty.
Showalter’s reluctance isn’t just about the team’s state; it’s about timing and change. “It’s a whole different thing now,” he noted, hinting at a new era in Baltimore baseball. He respects the new ownership and front office, choosing not to disrupt their vision. The game has evolved, and so has Showalter’s perspective on managing it.
Credit: MLB.com
Beyond respect, Showalter acknowledges the emotional toll managing takes. He sympathizes with current managers facing relentless pressure and criticism. “Those jobs are precious,” he said, signaling a rare appreciation for the role’s demands. Ultimately, Showalter’s decision is rooted in wisdom: sometimes, stepping back is the smartest move.
That wisdom, of course, comes from someone who’s had the job, survived it, and still has fans chanting his name. But nostalgia doesn’t win games—fresh legs do. Showalter knows better than to chase ghosts in a game, sprinting toward the future. Baltimore may still love him, but he’s not coming to save it. He already did that once.
The post Ex-NL Manager of the Year Tipped to Replace Brandon Hyde as Orioles Skipper by MLB Insider appeared first on EssentiallySports.