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Meet Craig Albernaz, the New Orioles Manager

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The Baltimore Orioles hired Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the team. The organization announced the signing on Monday afternoon.

Baltimore team president and General Manager Mike Elias told ESPN in a statement that the team was “elated” to welcome the coach. He also said that Albernaz would bring a ” tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge.”

The Orioles previously considered legendary first baseman Albert Pujols for the position earlier this month. There had also been talk that the team sought to interview former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais.

May 28, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz (55) calls in a play in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Who is Craig Albernaz?

Albernaz was a minor league player for the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 2006 to 2013. He was signed to the team as an undrafted free agent through team scout Kevin Elfering, according to Baseball Reference.

He saw limited success at the plate as a catcher and outfielder, hitting a .199/.276/.530 slash line with five home runs in nine seasons. Albernaz also tried his hand at pitching, holding a 10.69 ERA over 16 innings. He retired from professional baseball in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers farm system.

Following his tenure in professional ball, Albernaz became the hitting coach for the Princeton Rays in 2015, then the Hudson Valley Renegades in 2016. He held two managerial positions with the Renegades in 2017 and then with the Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2018. In both seasons, he led the teams to league championships and finished with a 134-81 record.

Albernaz also won the 2018 Midwestern League manager of the year award with the Hot Rods. He also served as the Rays’ minor league field coordinator in 2019.

A String of Success in the Majors

The then-38-year-old found himself in the San Francisco Giants organization as the bullpen and catching coach. For those not familiar with the position, the bullpen coach oversees the mechanics and preparation of relief pitchers in games.

Albernaz was one of the coaches on the 2021 Giants team that saw pitchers including Jake McGee, Tyler Rogers, and José Álvarez throw sub-3.00 ERA seasons. He also oversaw a developing Camilo Doval and a young Zack Littell that season. It was, by far, the best bullpen in terms of ERA and WHIP that year.

While not as dominant in 2022 and 2023, the team continued to boast a productive bullpen during his tenure. He did have a major hand in developing Rogers into one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the game today, alongside Doval. That track record saw him get a position on the Guardians’ coaching staff as their bench coach in 2024.

Alongside first-year manager Stephen Vogt, the Guardians reached the American League Championship Series in 2024. They also mounted one of the most memorable regular-season comebacks in 2025, winning the AL Central. Albernaz absolutely had a hand in achieving both those results.

What Does Craig Albernaz Bring to the Orioles?

The hire has been seen as a very positive move for the Orioles by pundits and fans alike. Albernaz is seen as a very positive, level-headed coach who acts like a teammate rather than a strict coach. An article by Zack Meisel of The Athletic painted a very fun, present picture of Albernaz’s relationship with Vogt and his team.

Jeff Passan of ESPN also highlighted his “ability to connect with players,” noting it was important for an Orioles team filled with a younger roster. MLB insider Jon Heyman also noted Albernaz’s communication style while also calling him “confident, humble, smart.”

The Orioles have many young players on the team, including second baseman Jackson Holliday, outfielder Dylan Beavers, and catcher Samuel Basallo. Fostering a good relationship between a manager and a player is paramount to having a successful ball club. It’s also important that the manager appreciates the spirit of the team in the game as well.

Craig Albernaz’s hiring makes it clear where the Orioles want to go. They want to move in a direction towards a more relaxed manager-player bond. It can work, but they can’t get too complacent or coddled; that could end in disaster.

 

Main Photo Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

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