In 2022, the Baltimore Orioles had the fourth-youngest roster in the MLB based on average age (27.62 years old). That figure does not change much, as the club has prioritized giving the young talent in their farm system opportunities to shine in the major leagues.
The Orioles have acquired a lot of talent in recent years. In the past four drafts, the Orioles have used a top-five selections on catcher Adley Rutschman (No. 1 overall in 2019), outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 2 in 2020), outfielder Colton Cowser (No. 5 in 2021) and shortstop Jackson Holliday (No. 1 in 2022). But the club has found talent outside of top-five picks as well.
One of the men tasked with developing these young players is Double-A Bowie manager Kyle Moore. Moore is a former Oriole farmhand himself, having played 29 games for the organization from 2010-2011 as a catcher. He became the manager of the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate in 2022 after managing elsewhere in the organization from 2018-2021.
“The biggest thing that I learned was that when we move players fast like we do in this organization, you’ve got to coach them fast and you’ve got to pour your heart out to them early,” Moore said of his first year in Bowie on Glenn Clark Radio April 5. “You can’t miss a coaching opportunity because when these guys get it and it clicks for them, they’re going to move fast. And it was a real learning experience.”
Moore, 37, has been in the organization since 2010. He recalled that the Orioles did not rely on their farm system in the same way a decade ago. How the organization operates has transformed in a big way, according to Moore. The manager mentioned that he had already worked with nearly every player invited to major league spring training this year, a first for him.
Great article. Thanks.