There are decisions in baseball that don’t cause a stir, no big press conferences or flowery promises. But it’s that very silence that sometimes makes people pause and wonder: what’s really going on behind the doors of the executive room?
The Baltimore Orioles just made such a decision.
The team, famous for its strong connection to its history, quietly appointed Thomas Eshelman – a former pitcher who once played for the Orioles – to assist in pitching development at the higher minor league levels. Not a name that sparks excitement, nor an icon who once electrified Camden Yards. In fact, for many fans, Eshelman is a faded memory, if not completely erased from the collective memory.
And that’s precisely what makes the story noteworthy.
In his brief three seasons in MLB with the Orioles, Eshelman only made 31 appearances, leaving behind an ERA of 5.77 – a number that offered little hope or confidence. That was his entire MLB career, before a short stint before officially retiring in 2022. No titles. No glorious moments. No significant mark on the statistics.
So why did the Orioles place him in such a crucial position within their pitching development system – a persistent and worrying weakness of the organization?
The answer may not lie in his past on the field, but in what Eshelman quietly built after leaving the spotlight. In professional circles, he is considered a remarkable “pitching mind” – someone who understands his own limitations, understands why he couldn’t become a star, and from that, recognizes the mistakes many young talents are making.
The Orioles are clearly looking for something different. Not an instant miracle. Not a name to sell tickets. Rather, an internal adjustment – ​​slow, discreet, and risky.
In reality, a minor league pitching coordinator can’t save the entire system alone. The Orioles’ problems have accumulated over years, and fixing them requires time, patience, and decisions that may not please the crowd. But choosing a former “relatively unsuccessful” player over a flashy name sends a difficult message: the Orioles are prioritizing understanding why things aren’t working, rather than simply copying formulas for success.
If Eshelman can contribute to creating consistent MLB pitchers in the coming years, this story will be told as an inspiring journey of redemption. A man who was given a chance, then quietly disappeared, now returns to help the next generation avoid repeating his mistakes.
But what if not?
If, in a few years, the Orioles’ pitching system remains stagnant, lacking depth, and Thomas Eshelman’s name once again fades into oblivion, how will today’s decision be perceived?
Perhaps the most important consideration isn’t whether Eshelman succeeds, but rather that the Orioles have reached a point where they have to place their trust in such a quiet choice. And within that silence, could there be a greater worry lurking that they are not yet ready to reveal?
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