Dan Connolly

Minor League Podcast: New coordinator John Wasdin discusses his coaching philosophy and developing young arms

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John Wasdin is in his first year as the Orioles’ minor league pitching coordinator – and his first year as a minor league coordinator for any organization.

But the 44-year-old knows plenty about pitching.

A former first-rounder of the Oakland A’s in 1993 out of Florida State University, Wasdin pitched 12 years in the majors and 17 years as a pro (including a couple in Japan).

Orioles fans may remember him from his half season with the club in 2001, when he posted a 4.17 ERA in 26 relief appearances.

But that wasn’t his only connection with these Orioles.

Wasdin spent four seasons in Boston after being traded to the Red Sox in 1997 for Jose Canseco. That deal was orchestrated by Dan Duquette, the Orioles’ current executive vice president. Wasdin (pictured above) also pitched three years for the Texas Rangers under then-manager Buck Showalter.

Last year, Wasdin was the pitching coach at Double-A Midland in the A’s organization, and although the primary job responsibility is the same – developing young pitchers for the majors — he now has to deal with an entire system and not just one staff.

Wasdin talked about that responsibility — and why he’s excited about this new challenge – with Adam Pohl, the voice of the Double-A Bowie Baysox.

In this week’s Minor League Podcast, Wasdin discusses his pitching philosophy, the talent in the Orioles’ system and his own journey into coaching – one that started at the high school level.

It’s always interesting to hear from new coaches, and Wasdin is a particularly important member of this Orioles’ organization. We all know pitching is the key in this game, especially developing minor league hurlers and preparing them to succeed in the majors.

I think you’ll be impressed by Wasdin in this interview. So, give it a listen.

Dan Connolly

Dan Connolly has spent more than two decades as a print journalist in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Baltimore native and Calvert Hall graduate first covered the Orioles as a beat writer for the York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record in 2001 before becoming The Baltimore Sun’s national baseball writer/Orioles reporter in 2005. He has won multiple state and national writing awards, including several from the Associated Press Sports Editors. In 2013 he was named Maryland Co-Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. And in 2015, he authored his first book, "100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." He lives in York, with his wife, Karen, and three children, Alex, Annie, and Grace.