Why Orioles hiring Craig Albernaz as next manager may be a good choice

The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly close to hiring their next manager, and he may be the right guy for the underachieving club.  

On Sunday night, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the Orioles are finalizing a deal to hire Craig Albernaz as their next manager. The 42-year-old coach served as the Cleveland Guardians associate manager this season. He was previously a catching and bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants from 2020-23.

Why Craig Albernaz could help Orioles get back on track

Albernaz is set to replace manager Brandon Hyde. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he won an American League East title and went 191-132 in the regular season. 

The Orioles fired Hyde in May after a 15-28 start. The club continued to crater under interim Tony Mansolino. It went 75-87 and finished last in the AL East. 

The Orioles, though, could be a rebound candidate in 2026. They have young stars, such as 24-year-old shortstop Gunnar Henderson and 27-year-old catcher Adley Rutschman. Both made the All-Star Game during the 2024 season. 

To help them rebound, the Orioles need a manager who knows how to get the most out of his players. Albernaz may fit that description. Passan noted his "ability to connect with players was a hallmark of his time in San Francisco and Cleveland." 

The Guardians almost hired Albernaz in 2023. Cleveland hired manager Stephen Vogt instead. Albernaz remained a key member of the coaching staff, which built one of the premier organizations in baseball over the past two seasons.

The Guardians have won two straight AL Central titles and made the American League Championship Series during the 2024 season. In 2025, Cleveland trailed the Detroit Tigers by 15.5 games in July but still came back to win the division. 

The Orioles still have plenty of work to do, especially in what may be the best division in baseball. The AL East features the Toronto Blue Jays, who are facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The New York Yankees, meanwhile, made it to the Fall Classic last season, losing to the Dodgers in five games. 

The hiring of Albernaz should still give Baltimore fans plenty of optimism. If he can connect with the Orioles' core pieces, they may be in for a quick turnaround.