The Orioles jumped out to a fast start to the 2024 season but struggled over the final three months after injuries thinned out their starting rotation and deprived them of several key hitters. Now a change to the training staff has been made.
Longtime head athletic trainer Brian Ebel will not be returning to the organization for next season, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday. Ebel, who was named a member of the MLB All-Star Game staff this summer, had been with the Orioles for 40 years including 28 in the majors. He began his career as a trainer for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles in 1985.
His departure is the latest in the series of offseason changes the Orioles have made since the Kansas City Royals swept them out of the wild-card round. The team also parted ways with co-hitting coaches Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, bench coach Fredi González and major league coach José Hernández. Baltimore has reshuffled the business side of its front office as well, taking a new direction under president of business operations Catie Griggs.
Though it’s unclear whether the Orioles will hire an external candidate or promote an assistant trainer to handle the job, their next athletic trainer will be tasked with overseeing the health of a roster with a few integral players returning from injury.
Kyle Bradish, an American League Cy Young Award contender in 2023, joins right-hander Tyler Wells as starting pitchers targeting midsummer returns from Tommy John surgery. Star closer Félix Bautista missed the entire 2024 season rehabilitating from his own elbow procedure but is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Outfielder Colton Cowser (fractured hand), right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (lat/teres strain) and infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow surgery) are all targeting similar timelines.
Ebel worked under Orioles Hall of Famer Richie Bancells before succeeding him as head trainer in 2017 after the latter retired. He was one of only four people to hold the position with the Orioles since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954.
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