Orioles Manager Takes Line Drive to the Face, Shows Up for Work Anyway

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz took a screaming line drive directly to the face during Monday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and somehow managed to show up and manage the team the very next night. The guy took a baseball to the jaw and didn't miss a game. That's commitment.

The Hit and the Damage

Albernaz was standing in the dugout when a line drive off the bat of Baltimore second baseman Jeremiah Jackson caught him square in the face. Tests revealed he suffered at least seven fractures in his cheek plus a broken jaw. Yeah, you read that right. Seven. Fractures. But here's the thing: he won't need surgery, which honestly sounds like a minor miracle given what happened.

In the moment, Albernaz's first instinct was pure protection. "My initial thought was, 'I've got to cover up my face,' because if it was really bad, I didn't want my family to see it on TV, and also guys in the dugout," he told reporters. "So I put my hand over my face, and that's when I took the steps down toward the dugout, got underneath the tunnel." The team's medical staff treated him immediately.

Baby Food for Six Weeks, Back in the Dugout Tuesday

The injury comes with some serious restrictions. Albernaz's eating will be limited to baby food only for the next six weeks. Not exactly how you want to spend your first season as a major league manager. But listen to what he said when asked if he'd be back: "I kind of have to show up every day. We play every day, to work. This is what we're here for. We're here for the players. We have a game. I'm physically able to be here. So let's go."

He even went further: "If my jaw was wired shut, I'd still be here. You just strap on and go about your next day."

That's the kind of toughness that defines managing in the big leagues. Albernaz is in his first season running the Orioles, and he's already showing he's not going to let anything, not even multiple facial fractures, keep him from doing his job.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.