One thing you hardly ever see in the world of sports today is a coach that is able to stick around after multiple losing seasons.
Even more infrequent, seeing that same coach then lead said team to a league-best record within three years of having the league’s worst. For Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, that infrequency became a reality. And because of it, he has officially been named the BBWAA AL Manager of the Year.
The O’s fifth-year skipper received 27 first place votes and three second place votes.
Coming into the 2023 season, not many people had any faith in the Orioles, not even after an eye-opening 83-win campaign that exceeded everyone’s expectations in 2022. However, there was one man who had faith, and that was Hyde.
Behind all of the great young players on this past season’s O’s roster to the plethora of game-winning decisions, and even to the charismatic aura of that Orioles clubhouse, was Hyder.
It is clear the tight-knit group he has created in Baltimore. For reference, check out this video of Hyde announcing the O’s 2023 All-Star representatives. Who wouldn’t want to play for a guy who is more excited than the players who were selected?
In 2019, Hyde was brought in alongside GM Mike Elias to attempt to fix the dumpster fire that was the Baltimore Orioles. From 2019 through early 2022, Hyde had to sit through a gut-wrenching 214-332 record.
However, one thing shined throughout those dark years. The Orioles had a solid young core and a manager who fit in perfectly alongside them.
After nearly clinching a Wild Card in 2022, the question arose: Could Brandon Hyde take this squad to the next level in 2023? The answer to that question was an astounding, yes.
Within the first full month of the 2023 season, it was clear Hyde had a team. However, many clubs start hot just to falter after the first 30 or so games. For the Orioles and Hyde, the month of May was a real test, and that month is where we believe Hyde secured this honor.
In May, the O’s endured a seven-series stretch where every team they were set to face was .500 or above. In that stretch, Hyde led his young team to a 13-9 record, which included a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays and series wins over the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.
From there, it was just a matter of how many games over .500 the Orioles would finish. In July, the Orioles took the AL East lead from the Rays in Tampa Bay, mind you, and never lost possession of first place again.
Coming back to take a division lead on a team who started out 13-0 meant every single game played mattered. Whether it was a random Tuesday in June or the division-clincher on that beautiful Thursday night in Baltimore. For every one of those games, Hyde had his team prepared, and he made the right moves all season long.
In the end, Hyde and his squad finished with an American-League-leading 101-61 record. It was the sixth time in franchise history that the Orioles finished with 100+ wins, and it was the first time in the Camden Yards era that the feat had been accomplished.
On the back of the teams’ first Division Championship since 2014, Hyde led the Baby Birds into their first postseason appearance since 2016. Unfortunately, we know how the story went once the O’s faced the buzz saw of a team in the Texas Rangers. That is irrelevant to this piece.
What Hyde was able to do with this 2023 Orioles team was astounding. What is most exciting is that this is just the beginning for this team and for Hyde. Expect our skipper to be in the running for this award again in near-future seasons.
But for now, let’s congratulate our manager, Brandon Hyde, on his first BBWAA AL Manager of the Year award. It is much earned, and we speak for all of Birdland when we say, “Thank you, Hyder!”
What do you think of Hyde winning this honor? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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