Craig Albernaz is officially the 21st manager in Orioles history.

Like his predecessors Brandon Hyde and Tony Mansolino, Albernaz does not have any big league managerial experience. He most recently sat as the associate manager for the Guardians, a role that he was promoted to after serving as Cleveland’s bench coach in 2024.

So without a track record as a manager to lean on and with about a week until we hear from Albernaz at his introductory press conference, we’re left with gathering bits and pieces of information where we can.

Let’s start with Albernaz’s previous coaching experience, which isn’t terribly expansive, given the fact that he was playing in the minor leagues as recently as 2014. 

His coaching career began just one year later with the Rays, the organization that he spent a majority of his minor league career with. After starting as a hitting coach, Albernaz got his first experience as a skipper in 2017, managing the Yankees’ High-A affiliate Hudson Valley Renegades and leading them to a Penn League championship. 

The hiring is official.

Craig Albernaz is the 21^st manager in Orioles history, with the announcement coming early this afternoon.

News broke late last night that the club was finalizing a deal with Albernaz, who spent the 2024 season as Guardians bench coach and 2025 as associate manager.

“We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the field,” president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. “Craig has built an exemplary career across multiple successful organizations and brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge. We believe he is the right person at the right time to elevate our baseball operations and guide our team back to the playoffs and a World Series championship.”

A big leap is required after the Orioles finished in last place this season with a 75-87 record following back-to-back playoff appearances.

Any business conducted by the Orioles this month is mostly done behind closed doors with limited or no information available, especially interviews for the managerial position. The process was advancing, but very quietly.

It's almost finished. The secrecy has broken apart.

A source confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles interviewed Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz for the job and expected him to be hired. Multiple reports tonight have the Orioles finalizing a deal with Albernaz, who will inherit a team that went 75-87 and sat in the cellar of the American League East.

Albernaz will become the 21st manager in Orioles history, not counting interims, since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954. He was Cleveland's bench coach in 2024 before earning a promotion. The Massachusetts native was a finalist for the managing job that went to Stephen Vogt.

The Washington Post reported that Albernaz interviewed for the Nationals job within the last week. So did Brandon Hyde, hired by the Orioles in December 2018 and fired in May after back-to-back playoff appearances. Hyde was a two-time Sporting News Manager of the Year in the American League before the Orioles tumbled into last place this season.