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Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was involved in a scary moment during the team’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
Albernaz was hit by a line drive off the bat of Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson in the fifth inning. The ball hit the coach’s left cheek and he had to be treated by the team’s medical staff.
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Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz speaks to the media in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on April 8, 2026. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Albernaz briefly returned to the game after Jackson hit a grand slam to help the Orioles win 9-7.
“He’s fine. Just as a precaution, they’re going to scan him,” Orioles bench coach Donnie Ecker said.
Jackson said he had a sinking feeling when he saw Albernaz in pain after the errant stroke.
“I hit and then I saw Alby holding his face. My heart sank,” Jackson said. “I was able to look at him afterwards and see that he was fine.”
AVALANCHE COACH TAKES THE PUCK TO HIS FACE, WILL MISS THE LAST GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON
Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz stands on the field before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on April 10, 2026. (Mitch Stringer/Image Images)
“Knowing that he was okay helped me. It made me feel a little better,” Jackson added. “I’m happy he’s okay and in good spirits.”
Albernaz and Jackson hugged after the infielder hit the big home run in the sixth inning.
“That was amazing,” Jackson said of his manager’s impromptu hug. “You never want to hurt anyone, and Alby is amazing. It sucked. But he used it well and he’s in a good mood, so it made me feel better.”
Albernaz is in his first year as Baltimore’s manager. He served as bench coach and assistant manager for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024 and 2025.
Baltimore Orioles’ Jeremiah Jackson rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Baltimore on April 13, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP)
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Baltimore improved to 9-7 with the victory and is tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.
