The Orioles today announced that they have hired DEMARLO HALE as their third base coach and BILL CASTRO as bullpen coach to fill the two vacancies on their 2012 coaching staff. JOHN RUSSELL (bench coach), JIM PRESLEY (hitting coach), RICK ADAIR (pitching coach) and WAYNE KIRBY (first base coach) will return from the 2011 staff.
Hale has spent 10 seasons as a major league coach, most recently serving as bench coach (2010-11) and third base coach (2006-09) for the Boston Red Sox. He was first base and outfield coach on Buck Showalter’s staff with the Texas Rangers from 2002-05.
Hale managed Texas’ Triple-A Oklahoma club to second-place finishes in the Pacific Coast League’s East Division in 2000 and 2001. He began his professional coaching career with the Red Sox organization at Double-A New Britain in 1992 and in seven seasons from 1993-99 as a manager with Boston’s minor league teams compiled a 491-471 record (.510 winning percentage) and reached the postseason three times.
Originally selected by the Red Sox in the 17th round of the 1983 June draft, Hale played five minor league seasons as a first baseman/outfielder in the Boston (1983-86) and Oakland (1988) organizations.
Castro joins the Orioles after 37 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, the last two as Pitching Advisor for Latin America. Castro spent 18 seasons on the Brewers’ Major League coaching staff, including the first part of the 2009 season as pitching coach. He previously served as bullpen coach from 1992-2008 and was the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Prior to joining the major league staff, Castro was the organization’s Minor League Pitching Coordinator from 1988-91 and a member of the Brewers’ scouting staff from 1985-87.
Originally signed by the Brewers as a non-drafted free agent in October 1970, Castro pitched 10 seasons in the major leagues with Milwaukee (1974-80), the New York Yankees (1981) and Kansas City (1982-83), going 31-26 with a 3.33 ERA and 45 saves in 303 games, including 294 relief appearances.
“The additions of DeMarlo Hale and Bill Castro add winning experience and diversity to our coaching staff,” said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE.
