The Cleveland Guardians lost one of the pillars of their coaching staff.
Assistant manager Craig Albernaz was hired to be the manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
After the announcement, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had nothing but praise for him.
“He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever been around. The hours that he puts in, the time that he puts in, he’s prepared for everything. He’s over-prepared. He knows people and, again, a lot of this job that’s seen on TV is about 5 percent of what it takes, and the 95 percent that isn’t seen, he’s going to absolutely crush and bring people together and create an unbelievable winning culture here,” Vogt said.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Orioles' Craig Albernaz:
"He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever been around. The hours that he puts in, the time that he puts in, he’s prepared for everything. He’s over-prepared. He knows people and, again, a lot of this job that’s seen on TV is…
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) November 4, 2025
Vogt previously raved about Albernaz, sending him an emotional farewell message after news of his departure broke.
This is a big loss for the Guardians, given that Albernaz was considered to be a rising star in the dugout, and his ability to connect with players was reportedly a big part of what they accomplished this season.
Then again, Vogt has also shown what he’s been able to do during his two years in charge and should be fine going forward.
He’s on pace to have a better record than former Cleveland manager Terry Francona, and he’s managed the team to back-to-back AL Central titles.
This team didn’t look playoff-bound for most of this season, and its stunning turnaround should be more than enough to warrant a contract extension for Vogt.
He is about to enter the third and final year of his original contract with the Guardians, but most reports indicate that the sides will agree to a long-term extension before the start of the 2026 season.
While replacing someone like Albernaz will be easier said than done, there’s no reason to think Vogt won’t find the right man for the job.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Reveals Guardians' Biggest Takeaway From Last Season
