The TSI Advisory Board offers experienced insight on how to grow and improve the baseball program. Board members provide technical advice on baseball operations — like player scouting, coaching best practices, and training methods. They can also mentor younger coaches or athletes, sharing knowledge from professional or collegiate experience. On that front we are setting up zoom calls and in-person clinics with the board to further the education of of our players and coaches, to once again make the Orioles the best developmental program in the RVA.
Desi Relaford is a former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons (1996-2007) with seven different teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. Known for his defensive versatility, he played every position except first base and catcher and once pitched a perfect inning for the Mets. After his playing career, Relaford served as the bench coach for the Daytona Tortugas in 2018 and a managerial role in the Appalachian League for the Danville Otterbots (2021 -2023) before transitioning to other baseball-related roles and starting a record label.
MLB Debut: August 1, 1996, with the Phillies MLB Teams: Phillies, Padres, Mets, Mariners, Rockies, and Rangers Positions Played: Primarily SS, but also played all other positions except 1B and C, showcasing his significant versatility Batting Average: Career .243 batting average with a career-best average of .302 in 2001 with the Mets
Jeff Schaefer
Jeff is a graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School Class of 1978 on Long Island, NY. A high school standout baseball player went on to star at the University of Maryland where he became an AIl-ACC and AlI-American player. Following Jeff’s junior year at Maryland he became the 12th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles.
Over Jeff’s 14 year professional career he spent 5 seasons in the major leagues playing for the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s. During his MLB career Jeff had the fortune to team up with such greats as Carton Fisk, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire, and played for World Series winning managers Joe Madden, Tony LaRussa and Charlie Manuel.
When Jeff’s playing days ended, he put his vast experience to work in helping to develop young players gain the exposure and skills necessary to succeed in receiving college scholarships and professional baseball opportunities. Jeff founded the Carolinas Baseball Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, cultivating a national network of college recruiters and major leaque scouts. Through opportunities and exposure facilitated by Jeff, 300+ players have gotten the opportunity to play at the collegiate and professional levels.
At the same time Jeff has earned a widely regarded reputation as an authority on travel and showcase baseball, and has become known as a leading national source for player evaluation and promotion. Jeff also works in the non-profit space serving as the current President of U Deserve a Chance Foundation (www.udac.org) and Chairman of the Knothole of the Carolinas Foundation (www.knotholecarolinas.org)
Mark Budzinksi
Mark played college baseball at the University of Richmond. In 1994, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Cleveland Indians selected Budzinski in the 21st round of the 1995 MLB Draft.
Budzinski played professionally for 11 seasons, and he spent the 1997 campaign in the Carolina League as an outfielder for the Kinston Indians. After spending time in the Indians, Cubs, and Brewers systems, Budzinski made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds on August 3, 2003.
Mark Budzinski returned to professional baseball in 2014 as the manager of the Lake County Captains. He then served as manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and the Akron RubberDucks in 2017. Budzinski was hired to the Cleveland Indians’ major league coaching staff on December 11, 2017.
On November 26, 2018, Budzinski was hired as the first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.
