NORFOLK — Tim Federowicz will be back in the dugout at Harbor Park this season, and he’ll have with him another person who knows his way around town.
A former major league catcher, Federowicz will be accompanied on the Norfolk Tides staff by first-year pitching coach Jeff Ware, a Norfolk native and former Old Dominion star.
Federowicz, 38, led the Tides to a 63-84 record last season, his first managing in the Baltimore Orioles organization. More notably, he helped usher many young prospects to the major leagues for the first time.
The Orioles announced the 2026 staff assignments Tuesday.
Ware, 55, comes to the organization after serving as the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen coach for two seasons, followed by one as the team’s lower-level pitching specialist. A graduate of First Colonial High in Virginia Beach, Ware was a first-round draft pick by the Blue Jays out of ODU in 1991.
Ware went 3-6 with a 7.47 ERA in parts of two big league seasons. The right-hander’s pro career, which lasted from 1992-2002, was disrupted by injuries.
During one Double-A rehab stint in 1994, Ware gave up one of basketball legend Michael Jordan’s three career home runs.
Ware is one of five first-round picks in ODU history, joining Paul Mitchell (1971), Terry Bell (1983), Wayne Gomes (1993) and Justin Verlander (2004).
The 2026 season will be Ware’s 18th as a coach in affiliated baseball.
Rick Strickland joins Norfolk’s staff as its hitting coach after four seasons coaching in the Chicago Cubs organization.
Returning staffers include fundamentals coach Felipe Alou, development coach Billy Facteau and athletic trainer Alan Rail.
Federowicz, a Pennsylvania native who grew up in Apex, North Carolina, played 13 professional seasons after starring at UNC. He appeared in 163 major league games for six teams over parts of eight seasons.
The prospects Federowicz helped turn into major leaguers last season included catcher Samuel Basallo, infielders Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson and right-handers Brandon Young and Kade Strowd.
David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.
