Jared Banner is barely on the job as Orioles general manager, but he’s already doing the kind of work that matters most in Baltimore: learning the franchise’s language, its standards and the people who helped build it.
Banner was hired on Oct. 19 and introduced Tuesday at Camden Yards, then quickly turned around and started absorbing what it means to run the Orioles. He said his focus is clear.
“Right now, I’m looking to listen, learn, understand Orioles tradition and culture,” Banner said, “and see what new, fresh perspective I can add.”
One of the first voices he’s leaned on is Cal Ripken Jr.
That makes sense. Ripken is one of the most defining figures in Orioles history, a Havre de Grace, Md., native who spent all 21 years of his MLB career in Baltimore.
He built the Iron Man streak of 2,632 consecutive games, a major league record that still feels untouchable. His No. 8 is retired, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Now 66, Ripken is part of the David Rubenstein-led ownership group that bought the team in March 2024. He’s a familiar presence at Camden Yards, often in the front row behind home plate, and earlier this year he took on a more direct role with the Orioles’ player development staff.
Banner met with Ripken during the interview process, when he spoke with president of baseball operations Mike Elias, president of business operations Catie Griggs and members of the ownership group. Since getting the job, the two have kept talking. They met for lunch on Wednesday and have already spent time together both in person and on the phone.
“I’ve already spent a lot of time with him, in person and on the phone. He’s going to be very involved,” Banner said.
“We want smart, talented people around us, no matter what form or shape they come in, and in his case, he’s the Iron Man. That’s awesome.
So I’m looking forward to that.”
Ripken’s influence has already been part of the Orioles’ recent development work. This past season, he worked closely with upper-level coordinator of instruction Mike Shildt, whose job centered on sharpening fundamentals and teaching the small details that can swing games.
Elias pointed to that work as an important piece of what Baltimore has been trying to build.
“We were really thankful for the work that went on with [Shildt]. Cal was very impactful, too, kind of working from the background,” Elias said.
“We really wanted to bolster our fundamentals and kind of X’s and O’s prep to go along with all of the great stuff that our group does on the hitting and pitching side and defensive skills. But sort of teaching the finer points of the game, I think, is something that across the league can use more emphasis these days.
And so, boy, what better experience to have talking to our kids than those guys?
“So that is something that we want to continue. I think we did a good job making a lot of improvements this year, and now, with Jared’s involvement, too, we’re going to be able to accelerate that.”
Banner has also been in regular contact with manager Craig Albernaz, who will return for a second season in 2027. The two have overlapping backgrounds in player development, and Banner said Albernaz has shown the same urgency he’s trying to bring to the role.
“I can tell he’s hungry for information, he wants to make the team better, just like we all do,” Banner said. “So we’re going to find a way to figure it out. It’s a puzzle, and we’re problem solvers.”
The list of Orioles voices Banner has reached out to doesn’t stop with Ripken. He has also spoken with Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, who works as a broadcaster for MASN, and with Adam Jones, the Orioles Hall of Famer who serves as a special advisor to Elias and a community ambassador.
For Banner, those conversations are part of the assignment. He’s trying to build an understanding of the organization from the inside out, and he believes that process will help him and the team moving forward.
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