Craig Albernaz Steps Into Orioles Spring Training With Calm Confidence and a Collaborative Vision
SARASOTA - First-year Orioles manager Craig Albernaz isn’t walking into spring training with nerves. He’s walking in with purpose - and a plan built on trust, collaboration, and a whole lot of energy.
“It’s a very calming feeling right now,” Albernaz said Tuesday during an MLB video call. “It’s a comfortable place when you have great people around you and you allow them to do their jobs and do them well. It makes your job a lot easier.”
That comfort comes from more than just optimism. Albernaz was given significant control in assembling his coaching staff - a rare luxury for a rookie manager - and he used it to bring in a group he knows and trusts. Of the 11 coaches on staff, seven are new, and five have direct ties to Albernaz: Donnie Ecker (bench), Dustin Lind (hitting), Brady North (assistant hitting), Jason Bourgeois (first base), and Hank Conger (bullpen).
That familiarity should help Albernaz stay grounded as he leads a 70-man roster through six weeks of spring training. And Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias has already seen signs that his new skipper is more than ready for the job.
“He seems like he’s done this before,” Elias said. “There’s no nervousness, no apprehension.
He’s fully prepared. What he did in Cleveland the last couple of years really got him ready for this.
He’s been thoughtful, and he’s already clicking with the players. The communication’s been great.”
That connection with the clubhouse started early. After landing the job in the fall, Albernaz made personal calls to introduce himself to players. He met others during last month’s Birdland Caravan and has continued those face-to-face conversations as players trickle into Sarasota.
With pitchers and catchers already in camp and the full squad set to report soon, Albernaz is focused on building relationships and learning the roster. He’s not just running drills - he’s listening.
“This spring training schedule is not for us,” Albernaz said. “It’s for the players.
What we do on the field - the practice environments, the drills - it’s all for them. We need their feedback.
That’s the most valuable piece.”
It’s a refreshing approach that puts player development front and center. Whether it’s adjusting a drill or reworking the daily schedule, Albernaz is making it clear: this is a shared journey.
“If there’s something they really like, and we need to double down on it, we’ll do it,” he added.
And while he’s the one wearing the manager’s title, Albernaz isn’t interested in making this about him.
“I’m going to be who I am,” he said. “It’s not about putting my stamp on the team.
It’s about a collective stamp - players, coaches, everyone. That’s what we’ve been preaching.”
It’s a team-first mindset that fits the tone around camp. After finishing 75-87 last season, the Orioles are looking to take a meaningful step forward. FanGraphs projects an 84-win season - a mark that would put them in the wild-card conversation, right alongside the Red Sox.
Albernaz isn’t making bold declarations, but he doesn’t need to. The energy is already there.
“Our guys want to work,” he said. “They want to get better.
They want to be challenged. That makes your job a lot easier.”
There’s no sense of being overwhelmed. Just excitement - and maybe a few practical worries, like making sure players don’t spend too much time inside the Orioles’ new $23 million training facility.
“The only butterflies I have are excitement,” Albernaz said. “The one thing I am nervous about is that we’ve got this new indoor facility, so I have to make sure our guys get outside and get some Vitamin D because we can stay inside all day and get everything done.”
Fan Access Expands in Sarasota
Fans heading to Sarasota will have more opportunities than ever to get an up-close look at the team. Beginning Wednesday, the Ed Smith Stadium complex will open for public workouts each day, including home and away game days starting February 20.
Practices are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with complimentary parking available in the East Lot. This year, fans can also watch pitchers throw inside the new training facility - a first for the club.
And for those looking to pair baseball with a taste of Baltimore, the Charm City Eats food truck will be on-site this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., serving up crab cakes and other Maryland staples.
With a fresh manager, a motivated roster, and a new facility buzzing with life, the Orioles are heading into spring training with a sense of purpose - and maybe, just maybe, the foundation for something bigger.