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Let’s be honest here—this Orioles organization has more ups and downs than a Six Flags roller coaster. Just two years ago, they were the darlings of baseball, winning 101 games and making everyone believe Camden Yards was about to become the new house of horrors for visiting teams. Fast forward to 2025, and they’re sitting at 75-87, watching the playoffs from their couches like the rest of us. Brandon Hyde got the axe back in May when the team stumbled to a pathetic 15-28 start. You know it’s bad when you’re getting fired before Memorial Day. Hyde had been running the show since 2019, and while he did guide the team to two playoff appearances, he also had the dubious honor of never winning a single postseason game. That’s like being a wedding planner who throws great bachelor parties but can’t seal the deal on the big day. Who Is Craig Albernaz? So who exactly is this Albernaz character that the Orioles are banking on to turn things around? Well, for starters, he’s never played a single inning in the big leagues—something that might actually work in his favor, considering how well some former players have fared in the dugout lately. The Massachusetts native spent nine years grinding through the minors with Tampa Bay and Detroit’s farm systems as a catcher. After hanging up his gear, he worked his way up through coaching ranks, starting as a bullpen coach with San Francisco before landing with Cleveland as their bench coach and eventually associate manager. The Cleveland Connection Here’s where things get interesting. Albernaz helped the Guardians win the AL Central in back-to-back seasons, and in 2024, Cleveland made it all the way to the ALCS before falling to the Yankees. Not too shabby for a franchise that’s been rebuilding longer than some of these players have been alive. The fact that multiple teams were reportedly interested in Albernaz this offseason tells you something—this isn’t just another recycled retread getting his shot because he knows a guy who knows a guy. The man has apparently impressed enough people in Cleveland that other organizations were lining up to steal him away. What He’s Walking Into Albernaz is inheriting an Orioles roster that should be competing for division titles, not fighting for respectability. We’re talking about a team with Jackson Holliday, Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Samuel Basallo—names that should have opposing pitchers waking up in cold sweats. But talent on paper doesn’t always translate to wins on the field, and the Orioles have been living proof of that lately. This organization has more young talent than a Disney Channel casting call, yet they can’t seem to put it all together when it matters most. The pressure is going to be immense. Baltimore fans have tasted success recently, and they’re not exactly known for their patience when things go south. Albernaz will need to find a way to connect with these young players while also instilling the kind of winning culture that’s been missing since that magical 2023 season. The Bottom Line Hiring Albernaz might not be the splash move that gets Orioles fans rushing to renew their season tickets, but it could be exactly what this franchise needs. Sometimes the best choice isn’t the biggest name. It is the guy who’s been quietly learning his craft and waiting for his moment. The Orioles have the pieces to be contenders again. Whether Albernaz can put them together remains to be seen, but at least now they have someone who’s actually been part of a winning organization recently. That’s more than they could say a few months ago. Baltimore better hope their new skipper can work some magic, because this fanbase has been through enough heartbreak to last several lifetimes. Time to find out if Albernaz is the answer they’ve been looking for.
