The Orioles’ efforts to improve their quality of play across the organization, both in Baltimore and the minors, will again include former major league manager Mike Shildt.

Shildt joined the organization last offseason as upper-level coordinator of instruction after stepping down from his managerial post with the San Diego Padres. An industry source confirmed he will be retained as director of on-field education, even as the club works to rejuvenate its front office and instructional staff under a new general manager.

Keeping Shildt is an indication that the organization is continuing to emphasize fundamentals, a focal point of manager Craig Albernaz after the team underwhelmed in his first season.

Shildt, who has a strong relationship with Orioles legend and minority owner Cal Ripken Jr., was a longtime minor league skipper. He managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 through 2021, then was a coach on the Padres staff for two seasons before taking over as manager for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

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After he stepped down, then-Orioles director of player and staff development Matt Blood reached out seeking to bring him to the organization to help enhance the fundamentals and baseball acumen of the club’s minor leaguers.

Blood was let go in September as part of a front office reshuffling, and president of baseball operations Mike Elias tapped Jared Banner as the club’s new general manager last month, putting him over player development and coaching and performance efforts.

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Banner has been working to evaluate Baltimore’s current development setup; he must have seen enough to know he wanted to keep Shildt.

Shildt was part of a group, including Ripken, that assembled to try to help the organization through defensive struggles last season.

While Shildt’s remit was exclusively in the minors a season ago, it’s unclear whether he will spend more time around the major league club next year. There’s been no news around the composition of Albernaz’s staff since the season ended.