The Orioles’ new manager has never managed a major league game. You wouldn’t have guessed it Tuesday morning.
Craig Albernaz spoke like a man who’s spent a lifetime preparing for this seat.
Yes, it’s extremely early.
But his initial answers came across as authentic and genuine, while his tone and distinct northeastern accent carried plenty of weight.
Albernaz laughed when his 2-year-old daughter Gigi playfully interrupted several times, a subtle but early indicator that he’s not fazed in the spotlight.
On a more serious note, Albernaz routinely steered most questions he received during his 45-minute introductory news conference back to the players and clubhouse that he recently inherited as Baltimore’s 21st manager in franchise history.
He might be new to managing at this level, but Albernaz has coached and learned inside some of the smartest organizations in baseball, building and earning his reputation as a communicator who connects with both the clubhouse and front office. That blend of conviction and relatability is why Elias and company tabbed Albernaz as the man to guide the Orioles out of their last-place finish in 2025, and why he deserves early trust from a fan base that’s grown disgruntled from the team’s finishes in recent seasons.
At the podium, Albernaz, who sported a crisp white dress shirt with custom bright orange buttons and a pair of matching Air Jordan “Shattered Backboard” 1s, sat between the two people who will shape his fate — president of baseball operations Mike Elias to his left and owner David Rubenstein to his right.
Albernaz looked comfortably like himself, and more importantly, sounded like someone who understands how to reach today’s generation of players.
At 43, Albernaz is old enough to have perspective of the game and young enough to still speak the language that resonates. His mention that he’s already reached out to “six” or “seven” players — and the way he joked about their wives and fiancés sharing double first names — were the type of small, relatable details that help humanize a clubhouse, and show he’s in touch with ever-growing social trends.
Some might argue none of that will matter on the diamond, but the Orioles surely could use the emotional lift.
Thus far, it seems to be coming from a genuine place.
“Players just want to know that you have their right interests in mind, to get them better. There’s no ulterior motives,” Albernaz said. “Players see through when you’re being fake. You have to be a truth-teller, you have to be authentic to yourself. That’s something that I pride myself on since I first started coaching.
“And that’s never going to change.”
Rubenstein and Mike Elias both hinted that Albernaz was their top choice in their managerial search after the club fired former manager Brandon Hyde in May. Rubenstein noted several times how industry voices kept steering the conversation back to Albernaz.
By all accounts, Albernaz was the candidate the Rubensten-Elias duo wanted all along.
Albernaz himself joked that Elias probably wished that he’d shown “more pep” in the interview process and, ultimately, when the Orioles offered him the job.
Gigi Albernaz, 2, waves while walking in front of her father Craig Albernaz on Tuesday. He was introduced as the Orioles’ new manager, taking over a team that lost 87 games in 2025. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)
“We’re really excited to have him here,” Rubenstein said of Albernaz. “He’s been a leader everywhere he’s ever been. People always say he’s a take-charge person that’s made every organization he’s been at better because he was there.”
Since transitioning to coaching in 2015, Albernaz has served as a coach or manager for seven different teams, including the Princeton Rays (2015), Hudson Valley Renegades (2016, 2017), Durham Bulls (2017), Perth Heat (2017), Bowling Green Hot Rods (2018), San Francisco Giants (2020-2023) and Cleveland Guardians (2024-2025). Over that span, those teams posted a combined record of 714-602.
During Albernaz’s lone season as the Rays’ minor league field coordinator in 2019, Tampa Bay’s nine rookie and minor league clubs posted a combined record of 501-387, with seven of its affiliates posting a record of .500 or better that season.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who flew in from the west coast to attend Tuesday’s news conference, called Albernaz the “hardest worker he’s ever been around,” and a “born leader who’ll absolutely crush it.”
Based on that quick background check, Rubenstein is correct.
Albernaz has frequently won throughout his career, and the Orioles are betting he brings that winning culture tradition to a franchise that hasn’t experienced a postseason victory under Elias’ leadership.
In Baltimore, Albernaz represents the third manager to work for Elias, and he inherits a roster that wildly underperformed in 2025, an inconsistent group that was affected by injuries to key pieces. Rubenstein is hoping that the injury bug doesn’t strike again in 2026, but if he and Elias truly want Albernaz to succeed, they’ll need to supply him with key offseason additions. Think top-tier starters, high-end relievers and a veteran right-handed bat.
Elias had several swings-and-misses last winter; it remains to be seen how those disappointing results will affect Rubenstein’s willingness to grant him more spending power.
As it pertains to the new manager, Albernaz cannot operate under the assumption that those additions will come.
Albernaz’s main challenge will center on maximizing a long list of talented homegrown players with hopes that they collectively can reach their ceilings without banking on external help. The former catcher praised Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo as cornerstones and even vowed to lean on them to “hold the coaches accountable.”
“My job is the players in the clubhouse,” he said. “So whoever’s in there, we’re going to pour into them.”
Finally, Albernaz briefly outlined his baseball philosophy. He noted how defense will be at the forefront, while the Orioles’ offense must be diverse. He even brought up the recent World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, pointing out his team must take pride in defense and making the right decisions.
Perhaps most telling, he simplified his process and everything pointed back to having fun.
“Guys play at their best when they’re having fun and just playing a kid’s game,” Albernaz said.
Added Vogt: “It’s baseball. It’s a game. Winning and losing is very important, but you have to have fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to play relaxed. … [Albernaz] is definitely going to keep everyone relaxed. You’re going to get a lot of personality, and you got to give it back to him.”
Albernaz on Tuesday provided the Orioles and their fan base with a glimpse at his personality with a voice that sounded confident, steady, modern and honest.
Opening day is more than four months away, but Baltimore’s new skipper earned himself some credibility and trust on Day 1.
For now, that’s a fine place to start.
Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.
Craig Albernaz smiles as Orioles owner David Rubenstein speaks. The ballclub introduced Albernaz as its new manager Tuesday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)