The Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a deal to rent Craig Albernaz as supervisor, tabbing one of many sport’s most well-respected younger coaches to assist engineer a turnaround after a disappointing 2025, sources advised ESPN on Sunday.
Baltimore fired supervisor Brandon Hyde in mid-Might after a 15-28 begin and named Tony Mansolino interim supervisor for the rest of the season, by which the Orioles went 75-87 and completed in final place within the American League East.
With a powerful core of younger hitters, the Orioles’ job was one of the vital alluring throughout an offseason with greater than 1 / 4 of managerial jobs open. And Albernaz, who, in his earlier teaching jobs, cast sturdy relationships with youthful gamers and was leaned on for a baseball sense honed by years behind the plate, leaped to the highest of the listing in Baltimore.
Albernaz, 42, was the affiliate supervisor for the Cleveland Guardians, who gained the American League Central this 12 months. Albernaz was a finalist for Cleveland’s managerial job in 2023 and joined the Guardians as bench coach after they as a substitute employed Stephen Vogt.
Throughout a nine-year catching profession that topped out at Triple-A, Albernaz was lengthy thought to be a possible future supervisor, and the Tampa Bay Rays — with whom he performed eight seasons — employed him as a coach in 2015. Albernaz managed two years within the low minor leagues and finally was employed earlier than the 2020 season by the San Francisco Giants as a bullpen and catching coach.
Albernaz’s potential to attach with gamers was a trademark of his time in San Francisco and Cleveland — and was a part of the attract for an Orioles staff full of younger expertise. With star shortstop Gunnar Henderson, catcher Adley Rutschman, infielder Jordan Westburg, outfielder Colton Cowser, second baseman Jackson Holliday, outfielder Dylan Beavers, slugger Samuel Basallo and infielder Coby Mayo, Baltimore has one the highest-ceiling rosters within the main leagues.
The Orioles’ pitching suffered final season, although, and whereas left-hander Trevor Rogers ‘ breakout 12 months and the return of right-hander Kyle Bradish from Tommy John surgical procedure bode properly for 2026, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is coming off shoulder and elbow accidents and Baltimore’s pitching depth within the rotation and bullpen is proscribed.
Albernaz’s first main league managerial job will likely be within the gauntlet of the AL East division, that includes the present AL champion Toronto Blue Jays, a powerful New York Yankees squad, the ascendant Boston Purple Sox and a Tampa Bay Rays group that’s aggressive yearly.