BEC Welcomes Baltimore Orioles Tim DeJohn for Speaker Series

CAMBRIDGE - Baseball Ontario is proud to announce the next guest speaker for the 2024 Best Ever Coaches Clinic, Baltimore Orioles Infield Coordinator, Tim DeJohn.

Tim DeJohn, Minor League Infield Coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles, just completed his 4th year as a coach in the organization. Hired in the Fall of 2019, DeJohn was set to coach in the Florida Complex League in 2020, a season which was erased due to Covid. The following year in 2021, he was assigned to the Aberdeen Iron Birds, the High-A affiliate of the Orioles, as the Fundamentals Coach, primarily working with infielders. DeJohn was then promoted to Double AA, Bowie for the 2022 season in the same role. In 2023, he was again promoted to the Infield Coordinator while doubling as Bowie’s Fundamentals Coach. In his tenure with the Orioles, DeJohn has had the privilege of playing a key role in the defensive development of players such as Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Joey Ortiz, Connor Norby, Coby Mayo, and Cesar Prieto.

Prior to joining the Orioles, DeJohn coached for 4 years at the Division 1 level for the University of Hartford (2016-2017) and University of Memphis (2018-2019).

While at the University of Memphis, in both seasons, the Tigers finished top 30 in the Nation defensively while posting the 2nd highest fielding percentage (.974 in 2018) and 2nd fewest errors (53 in 2018) in program history.

DeJohn’s tenure at Hartford (2016-2017) also saw the Hawks set numerous defensive records, while also posting a program record 37 wins in 2016. That season Hartford finished second in program history with 1,413 putouts and committed the third-fewest errors (53) in a single season.

In 2017, the Hawks set the program record for the fewest errors in a season, with 45, and the team’s No. 1 all-time fielding percentage (.975), topping the team’s previous record of .974, set in 2016.

Three of the Hawks' four starting infielders also achieved career-high fielding percentages during DeJohn's first year in 2016, led by first baseman David MacKinnon (.993), shortstop Ben Bengtson (.955) and third baseman TJ Ward (.944). MacKinnon collected an armful of individual awards in 2016, including America East Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team, All-New England Second Team and All-Region First Team. In 2017 MacKinnon set the Hawks’ single-season fielding percentage record at .998, committing just one error in 461 chances.

DeJohn’s move to Hartford came after working as the associate head coach at Southington (Conn.) High School, with responsibilities as the infield, first base, and catcher’s coach. In his five seasons at Southington, DeJohn helped lead the team to four CCC Conference championships, five consecutive state semifinals appearances, and three state finals appearances in 2011, 2013, and 2014. The program achieved a .760 winning percentage, while producing 22 collegiate players and two Major League Baseball draft picks.

DeJohn is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University with a B.S. in History, and he earned his M.A. in Education from the University of Bridgeport.

The 2024 Best Ever Coaches Clinic returns to the Sheraton Toronto Airport from January 12-14, 2024. It features a line-up of knowledgeable guest speakers, an 8U-13U Youth Team education series, vendors, and much more! To register, visit www.playoba.ca/bestever.