Craig Albernaz wrote out the lineup card and handled his early media obligations on his first Opening Day as a major league manager. He described his arrival at the ballpark this morning as “awesome” and was eager to introduce the Orioles, without a microphone or through the new sound system, to people expecting a winning product in 2026.

“It’s a special day for all baseball fans,” he said. “I consider myself a baseball fan, and to be here in Camden Yards for Opening Day, to feel the crowd, feel the fan base behind us, to go through the ceremonies, it’s gonna be electric and it’s gonna be a special day.”

Albernaz wants everyone in attendance and watching at home to see and feel how all 26 players on the roster are going to do everything they can to win that day or night. That’s his message in the clubhouse.

“Don’t worry about anything else,” he said. “You can only play the game in front of you. Just go out there and compete, and no matter what the score is, we’re still in the fight. Or, if we’re winning, we’ve got to secure the victory. So we’ve got to do whatever we can to win that night.”

The Orioles went 0-6 against the Twins last season, so they can give Albernaz his first win and snap a losing streak. They’re 47-25 on Opening Day since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, and their .653 winning percentage is the best in the majors during that time.

The club is 48-24 in the first home game, including 33-13 on Opening Day in Baltimore.

Once the festivities are over today and it’s time for first pitch, “we’ve got to lock in and go out and win,” Albernaz said.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not going to have fun. Something I’ve talked about is, players play at their best in this game when you’re loose and having fun. And for us, we have to stay there in that mindset and also stay competitive.”

Albernaz didn’t know exactly where wife Genevieve, sons CJ and Norman and daughter Gigi would be sitting today but was confident in his ability to find them.

“I’ll definitely hear them. That’s for sure,” he said.

“I love that they’re here. They’re part of this journey, especially Genevieve. … I’m glad she’s here to appreciate that because it’s just as much her Opening Day as mine.”

Are the kids more excited than him?

“Yeah, I would say so,” Albernaz said. “Especially my two boys, CJ and Norman. They’re more upset because they haven’t hit in the cage yet. There’s been a lot of stuff going on yesterday and today, so the biggest thing is, I’ve got to make sure to get them in the cage so I can keep me sane and my wife sane.”

The boys had one request for their dad. They wanted him to do something special, something really memorable, when introduced on the orange carpet.

“I was like, ‘No, I’m just gonna run out there,’” Albernaz said. “But then I show them the Ray Lewis intro and stuff. ‘You should do that!’ And I was like, ‘I’m not doing that.’”

New Ravens coach Jesse Minter is serving as guest splasher in the bottom of the second inning. Albernaz texted him last night.

“I told him to make sure he came down to the clubhouse and kind of say ‘What’s up,’” Albernaz said. “I don’t know Jesse. I reached out to him when he got the job. You know, there’s only us and the Ravens in the city, so just want to build that relationship.

“Everything I heard about Jesse, he’s a phenomenal human being, great family man. That’s something I think I am, as well, as far as family. I don’t know about great family men. I think we just try our best. But yeah, I just encouraged him to stop down whenever he had time.”