Former Rangers offensive coordinator now right-hand man to new Orioles manager

Orioles to hire former Rangers offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker as new manager Craig Albernaz's bench coach

The Baltimore Orioles are hiring former Rangers offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker as bench coach under new manager Craig Albernaz, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill. Ecker replaces Robinson Chirinos, who will not return to the staff.

Ecker, 39, spent the last four seasons with Texas. The Rangers hired him as bench coach and offensive coordinator in the 2021-22 offseason. He served both roles until Texas removed his bench coach responsibilities for the 2025 season. The Rangers replaced him with Bret Boone on May 4 due to the team's struggling offense.

Ecker previously worked with Albernaz on the San Francisco Giants' coaching staff from 2020-21, when Ecker served as the hitting coach and Albernaz as bullpen/catching coach.

Ecker's coaching career began at the High School level. He served as Los Altos High School's assistant coach from 2011-12 before working as the head coach from 2013-14. Then, he became an assistant coach at Bakersfield College.

Ecker's first job coaching a professional team came in 2015 when he was hired as a coach for the Palm Beach Cardinals. He stayed with the Cardinals through the 2016 season before serving as the hitting coach for the Peoria Chiefs (2017) and Salt Lake Bees (2018).

In 2019, the Cincinnati Reds hired Ecker as assistant hitting coach, marking his first major league coaching job. After just one season with the Reds, Ecker became the Giants' co-hitting coach along with Justin Viele.

Even though the Rangers dismissed Ecker mid-season, he likely had minimal influence on Texas' lack of offensive production. Still, the Rangers likely made the right move by letting him and signaling a needed culture change. Ecker still had success with the Rangers, helping the team win the 2023 World Series, but it was time for him to go.

Despite getting fired this year, Ecker still can do a great job as the Orioles' bench coach. He has been successful as an MLB coach with the Rangers and Giants. Taking over a position he has never held before will certainly be challenging, but given his experience, Ecker seems like the right man for the job.