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The Baltimore Orioles recently underwent layoffs that affected several departments, including letting go of the performer who plays the team’s mascot, "Oriole Bird," and another gameday character, Mr. Splash. According to The Athletic's report by Brittany Ghiroli, cuts also impacted staff in ticket sales, graphic design, photography, and other areas within the business department. While the team confirmed these layoffs, they declined to comment on specific employee matters but assured fans that mascot characters would remain part of the game-day experience, albeit with different performers.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
More than two dozen employees, including those who played Oriole Bird and Mr. Splash, were let go by the Baltimore Orioles as part of a round of layoffs in May 2023. The cuts affected various departments such as ticket sales, graphic design, and photography. Despite the reductions, the team stated they would continue recruiting for critical roles and added that the Bird Bath section in left field will remain operational without Mr. Splash. Orioles President of Business Operations Catie Griggs noted in an internal memo that the layoffs were not about reducing headcount overall but rather reallocating resources. The extent of the layoff was described as a "bloodbath" by some sources, highlighting the severity of the cuts within the organization.
Written for “Orioles Mass Layoffs” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 63650 · logged 2026-10-07
No one likes to hear the word "layoffs" because it's always terrible when someone loses their job.
asserted
someone → like → job
But in the world of sports, if there was one gig that was bulletproof on this front, I always thought that would be the mascot.
asserted
that → be → front
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.
uncertain
page → contain → partners
If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
uncertain
News → sign → wager
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.
asserted
that → create → newsroom
However, according to a new report on the Baltimore Orioles situation, I appear to have been mistaken.
uncertain
I → accord → situation
Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that the Orioles went through a round of layoffs, and one casualty was the performer who plays the team's mascot, the "Oriole Bird."
The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli reported that the cuts affected not only the mascot, but also the team's photographer and staff in the ticket sales and graphic design departments.
asserted
cuts → report → departments
Another gameday character, Mr. Splash — who would spray water on people when the Orioles delivered an extra-base hit — was also reportedly laid off.
uncertain
Orioles → spray → hit
The team spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that the cuts were made to the organization's business department, but said that they would not comment on employee matters.
As you might have expected, the news was not well-received by fans.
However, despite the layoff news, it does not sound like the characters themselves are going anywhere.
uncertain
characters → confirm → news
According to The Baltimore Sun, the team plans to backfill both roles with employees already on staff.
uncertain
team → accord → staff
So, no, the t-shirt cannon will not be silenced.
asserted
cannon → silence → ?
It's great to hear that the characters will still be around, but a huge shame that the folks who have put in time as those characters and helped make them as popular as they are won't be.
asserted
they → hear → characters
The O's finished this season fourth in the AL East with a record just a shade under .500 at 79-83.
asserted
O → finish → 79
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