Orioles Manager Craig Albernaz Has Broken Jaw After Being Struck In Face By Foul Ball

New Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was nailed in the face by a foul ball in Monday night’s win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In a wild day of baseball that saw nine hitters have a multi-homer game and a plethora of runs, Albernaz was the victim of a scary scene that happened in the fifth inning of the Orioles and Diamondbacks game when Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson sent a foul ball right into his team’s dugout and struck his manager in the face.

Albernaz was standing at the top of the tunnel in the dugout before being met with a baseball to his face. He was then taken back to the clubhouse for further evaluation by the medical staff.

Bench coach Donnie Ecker took over as manager for the remainder of the game. Ecker told reporters after the game that Albernaz was doing “good.”

“Just as a precaution right now, he is going to get scanned, and we’ll have more information tomorrow,” Ecker said. 

Albernaz did return to the game in the sixth inning, and a red mark was visible on the side of his face, but he would head back into the clubhouse and did not return to the game.

Orioles ace pitcher Trevor Rogers said, “The fact he didn’t go to the ground shows how tough of an SOB he is. And the fact he wanted to come back to the dugout, he’s got a big set of balls on him.”

Albernaz and the Orioles are off to a good start in his first season, being tied for the lead in the American League East with a 9-7 record.

Doctors later reveal that Albernaz suffered a broken jaw from the incident.