(Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)

Craig Albernaz became a first-time manager with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday after 11 seasons as an assistant coach.

Albernaz, who turns 43 on Thursday, was the Cleveland Guardians' associate manager this season after serving as bench coach for 2024.

'I am deeply honored and humbled to join the storied Baltimore Orioles organization,' said Albernaz in a statement. 'This is a tremendous honor, and I'm grateful to (general manager) Mike Elias and the entire Orioles team for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this talented club.'

Elias, after an extensive search, said that the organization was thrilled to hire Albernaz.

'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,' Elias said in a statement. '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.'

The Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde on May 17 after a 15-28 start. Interim manager Tony Mansolino showed a steady hand (60-59) as the team finished 75-87 and he was a candidate for the full-time position.

The Orioles descended in 2025 to last place in the American League East after capturing the division in 2023 with a 101-win season and then posting 91 victories in 2024 for consecutive playoff appearances.

Baltimore is stocked with young position players, making it an attractive post for managerial candidates. Albernaz is known for working well with young players after two years managing in the low minor leagues and then being hired before the 2020 season to be the San Francisco Giants' bullpen and catching coach.

A native of Fall River, Mass., Albernaz played catcher for nine years in the minor leagues (2006-14), rising as high as Triple-A with the Tampa Bay Rays before his final season with the Detroit Tigers' Double-A affiliate.

The Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals still have managerial vacancies for the 2026 season.

--Field Level Media