When Jed Hoyer called David Ross two years ago to “quit” his job, it was so abrupt that many players called it “cruel”: his contract was still up, the season was about to end, and Ross himself believed he would continue in Seattle. Immediately, did the story of the former iron-eyed coach end there? They slowly denied: that talent would never disappear from the field. And now, the MLB market is excited as Ross has just reappeared – stronger, hungrier, and most importantly: never ready to say goodbye to baseball.
Ross was once called “Old Rossy” – the legendary former player for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, who scored the winning run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, then went on to coach. When he was appointed as Joe Maddon’s successor in the spring of 2020, Ross brought the image of a great player from his long career on the field, but he was embarking on one of the most difficult learning curves of his career.
The former player led the Cubs to a division title in 2020, but only managed to maintain a sustainable lead in the next two seasons. With the team falling slightly short of expectations and Craig Counsell poised to step in with the biggest contract in MLB history, Ross was fired – just one day after declaring he would “continue the intense program.”
For the past two years, he has said simply: “I need time to train myself to see if I can still commit.” The public thought the resilient strategist would find another job or give enough signs…
But last week, all that changed. Jed Hoyer’s sources confirm that Ross is back – not just as a second manager, but as the front-runner for the Baltimore Orioles’ head coach position, and on the short list of teams looking for a leader with experience leading a team with a new generation of stars like Adley Rutschman or Gunnar Henderson.
“I’m not leaving baseball,” Ross admitted in a recent interview. “I miss being in charge of a team. And more importantly, I want to prove to myself that this firing isn’t the end.”
Once the news broke, it spread like wildfire. ITM buzz discussing the prospects of the Orioles and the Atlanta Braves – where Ross played from 2009–12 – skyrocketed. Ross’s reputation as a “baby Raider” never waned. Instead, it was like a storm after being kicked out of the house, and now he is standing on the sidelines ready to throw into the future.
Ross once admitted that the sudden separation in 2023 was a “stab in the heart”, but also a lesson. He spent two years analyzing the failure and learning to control his emotions – which had once cost him points with the supervisory board.
And now, the 48-year-old strategist is back in the form of “Phoenix Rising”. He doesn’t want to be just a name coming back. He wants to be the one to change the team and maybe, to re-establish himself at the top again.
Ross has stepped out of urban basketball, as a starter from the starting line. In the Manchester squad of the Orioles, Braves or even direct competitors like the San Francisco Giants – Ross’s roar can shake the entire MLB.
And however 2025 ends, one thing is clear: David Ross’s career isn’t over. It’s just beginning.
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