Baseball Managers Reunite as Rivals After Minor League Days

When Craig Albernaz opened the visiting manager's office at Progressive Field, he found a kid-sized desk, a Spider-Man shower curtain, and Bluey decorations everywhere. His friend and former boss Stephen Vogt had turned the room into a toddler's paradise, poking fun at the 5-foot-8 manager.

The prank marks a milestone moment in an unlikely friendship. Albernaz and Vogt spent years as Minor League catchers in the Tampa Bay Rays system from 2007 to 2012, grinding through countless bullpen sessions together.

Fast forward to today, and both are managing Major League teams. Vogt leads the Cleveland Guardians while Albernaz just became the Baltimore Orioles' new skipper.

Their journey to the top started when both interviewed for Cleveland's managerial job in 2024. Vogt got hired and immediately brought Albernaz on as his bench coach, later promoting him to associate manager.

Together, they won the American League Central division both years. Vogt's willingness to share responsibilities prepared Albernaz for his own managerial role, which he credits for his readiness to lead Baltimore.

"We used to say it to each other all the time for the past two years, 'Can you believe they let us do this?'" Albernaz said. "To even say it out loud doesn't seem right. But here we are."

The friendship extends beyond baseball. Vogt attended Albernaz's introductory press conference in Baltimore last November, celebrating his friend's achievement even though it meant losing his right-hand man.

That supportive bond showed again this week when Albernaz suffered a fractured jaw and seven cheek fractures from a foul ball in the dugout. He received roughly 100 concerned texts from Cleveland friends before the jokes started flying once he confirmed he was okay.

True to his hard-nosed reputation, Albernaz returned to managing just one day later, bruising still visible below his eye.

Sunny's Take

Cleveland catcher David Fry summed up what made Albernaz special during his time with the Guardians. "He was extremely smart. He really knew how to relate to players, but also really knew the game," Fry said.

The weekend series between Baltimore and Cleveland represents more than wins and losses. It celebrates two friends who climbed from Minor League obscurity to Major League dugouts together.

While they'll compete fiercely during games, their friendship remains intact. They still bounce ideas off each other and stay in constant contact.

Albernaz plans to ship all the kid furniture back to Cleveland with the bill going to the two-time American League Manager of the Year, joking that Vogt can "get off his wallet one time."

From catching 1,000 Minor League bullpens to managing against each other in the majors, their story proves that friendship and competition can coexist beautifully.