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BALTIMORE — Manager Craig Albernaz is out of danger after the scare he experienced on Monday night at Camden Yards, an episode that tested — once again — his renowned toughness within baseball.
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During the fifth inning of the Orioles' 9-7 comeback victory over the D-backs, Albernaz was hit in the face by a 70.6 mph foul line drive hit by infielder Jeremiah Jackson. The manager, in his first season in charge in the Major Leagues, was immediately assisted and accompanied out of the dugout by outfielder Taylor Ward and members of the medical staff. After being evaluated, Albernaz briefly returned to the dugout with a visible mark on his right cheek. In a gesture that reflected both his character and the team's atmosphere, he returned to embrace Jackson after his grand slam in the sixth inning. However, he did not remain in the dugout or attend the post-game press conference, as he was undergoing tests as a precaution. Bench coach Donnie Ecker conveyed reassurance about his condition. "Okay. If it were up to him, he'd finish the game and be sitting here," Ecker assured. Jackson himself confessed that the moment was difficult to accept, and that it took him several minutes to regain his composure. Seeing his leader return to the dugout helped alleviate the worry. "You never want to hurt anyone, and Alby is incredible, so it was tough," he commented. "But he took it well and is in good spirits, that made me feel better." The reaction quickly spread both within the locker rooms and on social media. Even from the rival side, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo expressed his concern and support. "It hurts us to see something like this. We wish Craig the best, we all support him," he said. Despite having only 16 games as a manager in the Major Leagues, Albernaz has already earned the respect of players and coaching staff. What happened on Monday only reinforced his image of strength. "It was good to see him return a moment after what happened," Ward said. "We hope everything is okay." For now, it has not been confirmed if Albernaz will be in charge of the team in Tuesday's game against Arizona, as he continues under medical evaluation as a preventive measure.
