Craig Albernaz resets Orioles’ clubhouse culture

Massachusetts: The term “clubhouse culture” is tossed around baseball so often that it can start to lose its meaning or feel abstract to fan bases, especially during moments of change. The phrase comes up during introductory news conferences and also is questioned when seasons end too early, like the Orioles in 2025, or when expectations begin to rise. When left undefined, poor clubhouse culture is often treated as something mystical, like a vibe you either have or don’t, rather than something built and regularly reinforced.

When I asked Orioles manager Craig Albernaz at Birdland Caravan to name a nonnegotiable for his players, the Orioles’ new manager didn’t reach for anything too complicated.

“Showing up,” Albernaz replied. He paused before continuing. His complete answer, provided without embellishment, offered a clear window into what Albernaz believes culture actually is, and how the Orioles intend to carry themselves entering spring training and the ensuing regular season, Albernaz’s first as a big-league manager.

“I think where there’s bad culture, there’s a ton of rules,” he said. “And then when there’s a good culture, the rules simplify, right? That’s the biggest thing with us.” Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in less than two weeks, and the Orioles finally will gather in Sarasota, Florida, and experience a breath of fresh air. Last season marked one of the most disappointing campaigns in recent history, punctuated by the club’s extremely slow and disappointing start and former manager Brandon Hyde’s midseason firing. Starting pitching proved to be an early detriment, while several key hitters underwhelmed and experienced a season of regression.

With how the club has acted this winter, that feels like forever ago, doesn’t it? Following Albernaz’s hiring in late October, president of baseball operations Mike Elias has conducted the most aggressive offseason in his tenure, a credit to the ownership group’s willingness to identify top talent and spend near the top of the market in player acquisition. Slugger Pete Alonso’s arrival is one of just several highlights from Elias’ busy offseason, and there’s a possibility that the club’s top baseball chief isn’t quite done yet.

Pitcher Tyler Wells, one of Baltimore’s longest-tenured players, acknowledged the hype and buzz surrounding the club. “I think this is the most intense offseason,” Wells said. “That’s also kind of directly correlated to how I’ve approached the offseason as well, knowing we have a lot of eyes on us. We’ve got to come out and we’ve got to perform, first and foremost. But it’s also very exciting for people to get the opportunity to go out there and show everyone what we can do.”

The Orioles brought in Albernaz, 43, to help modernize the most important voice in the clubhouse. His reputation, with key stints across Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cleveland, paints the picture of a leader built less on tactical flash and more on relationships and ... yep, setting the ever-important clubhouse culture.

People who’ve worked with him consistently describe him as intentional, direct and deeply invested in communication, important qualities required to navigate a rigorous 162-game regular season with postseason dreams attached.

“We already have great dudes in the clubhouse,” Albernaz said. “It’s [about] allowing them to be themselves and more importantly, we want our guys to be — they want to show up to the field every day. They look forward to going to the field [to the point it feels like] it’s not a job, it’s not a chore, they really enjoy being around each other, being at the yard.

“That’s something with our guys, that’s not going to be an issue.” Similar to other teammates who made appearances at last weekend’s Birdland Caravan events, Wells described Albernaz as a “straight shooter,” who’s been clear and direct in conversations with players heading into spring training.

Tribune News Service