Orioles Manager Takes Line Drive to the Face, Returns to Hug the Guy Who Hit It
Here's a moment that perfectly captures what baseball is all about: Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz took a screaming line drive to the face during Monday night's game against Arizona, got treated by the medical staff, and then came back out to embrace the player who sent that same baseball rocketing into the dugout. That player, second baseman Jeremiah Jackson, had just crushed a grand slam to cut the Diamondbacks' lead from seven runs down to one.
The Hit That Changed Everything
Jackson's liner struck Albernaz in the left cheek earlier in the game, sending the manager immediately into the tunnel for treatment. The good news: he wasn't seriously hurt. As a precaution, the team's medical staff planned to get scans done, but Albernaz was doing fine. Bench coach Donnie Ecker handled the postgame news conference in his place.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThen came the sixth inning. Jackson connected on a grand slam that turned what looked like a blowout loss into a genuine comeback opportunity. The Orioles ultimately won 9-7, erasing that six-run deficit in stunning fashion.
A Manager Worth Playing For
What made the moment really special was what happened after. Jackson saw Albernaz emerge from the tunnel and they shared a big hug. For Jackson, that embrace meant everything.
"That was awesome," Jackson said. "You never want to hurt anybody, and Alby's awesome. It sucked. But he wore it well and he's in good spirits, so it made me feel better."
Jackson's heart had dropped when he first realized what happened. "I hit, and then I kind of saw Alby holding his face. My heart kind of dropped," he explained. "I was able to see him afterward and see he was doing OK."
It's clear that Albernaz, in his first season as Baltimore's manager, has already built real respect in the clubhouse. "Knowing he was OK helped. It made me feel a little bit better," Jackson said. "I'm just happy he's doing OK and in good spirits."
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