Mr. Splash has also been let go by the Orioles
NEED TO KNOW
The Baltimore Orioles let go of the person who portrays their mascot, the Oriole Bird, according to multiple reports
The mascot and Mr. Splash, who sprays fans with water during games, were part of major layoffs
The Orioles promised that “fans will continue to see the Oriole Bird regularly,” in a statement to PEOPLE
Even the team’s namesake wasn’t safe from the Baltimore Orioles’ recent round of layoffs.
The Orioles laid off more than a dozen employees in various departments ranging from ticket sales to graphic design, according to The Athletic.
Among the layoffs — which a source described to the Baltimore Banner as a “bloodbath” — was the person who portrayed the beloved mascot, the Oriole Bird, and Mr. Splash, who was known to douse fans with water in a section called the “Bird Bath.”
Mr. Splash had been with the team since May 2023, according to The Athletic. The Oriole Bird debuted on April 6, 1979, according to the MLB.
The Oriole Bird on Aug. 21, 2026Credit: Scott Taetsch/Getty
The Orioles plan to continue operating the “Bird Bath” section without Mr. Splash, per The Athletic. The organization also let go of the team’s photographer, the outlet said.
A spokesperson for the team told PEOPLE in a statement, “While we cannot comment about specific employees, fans will continue to see the Oriole Bird regularly, on the dugout in the middle of 7th inning, on the field after an Orioles win, and at events across our community both during and outside of our season.”
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An internal memo sent to employees by president of business operations Catie Griggs and later obtained by the Baltimore Banner and the Baltimore Sun said, “Some of the people leaving have been here for more than a decade, others for a much shorter time, and every one of them was part of our team. To many of you, they are friends as well as coworkers.”
The memo reportedly continued, “For those of you who have been here a long time, today may also feel like losing part of what this place has been. That history matters, and it remains part of who we are. We’re grateful for what each of them gave this organization.”
Griggs told staffers the layoffs were “not about reducing headcount,” but about “making sure our teams are built and staffed for the work ahead,” in the memo, per the outlets.
Read the original article on People