Orioles Manager Takes Foul Ball, Returns to Hug Player

A scary moment at Camden Yards turned into a display of character that's already defining Craig Albernaz's first season as Baltimore's manager.

During the fifth inning of Monday night's 9-7 Orioles comeback win, Albernaz took a 70.6 mph foul liner to the face. The ball came off second baseman Jeremiah Jackson's bat, sending the rookie manager down the dugout steps for medical evaluation.

What happened next captured the team's attention. Despite a visible red mark on his right cheek, Albernaz returned to the dugout one inning later for a single purpose: to hug Jackson after the infielder hit a grand slam.

Jackson admitted the incident shook him badly. "Never want to hurt anybody, and Alby's awesome, so it sucked," he said, noting it took him 30 to 45 minutes to recover emotionally from seeing his manager get hit.

That brief embrace changed everything for Jackson. "He wore it well, and he's in good spirits, so it definitely made me feel better," the infielder said.

Why This Inspires

Albernaz spent nine years as a minor league catcher, baseball's most grueling position. He didn't need to prove his toughness to anyone.

But in choosing to return to the dugout specifically to support his player in a moment of achievement, Albernaz showed something beyond physical resilience. He showed the kind of leadership that puts others first, even while dealing with his own pain.

First baseman Pete Alonso summed up the team's reaction: "He's a tough guy. He definitely rubbed some dirt on it."

Bench coach Donnie Ecker, who ran the postgame press conference while Albernaz got precautionary scans, confirmed what everyone already knew. "If it were up to him, he would finish the game and he would be sitting right here," Ecker said.

Even the opposing manager noticed. Arizona's Torey Lovullo sent well wishes across the field: "We hate seeing that, so I wish Craig the best."

Just 16 games into his major league managerial career, Albernaz is already showing his team what leadership looks like when it counts.