Orioles manager Craig Albernaz struck in face by foul ball in dugout

First-year Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was struck in the face by a foul ball off the bat of his second baseman, Jeremiah Jackson, in the fifth inning of the team's 9-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, April 13 at Camden Yards.

Albernaz, 43, was positioned in his usual spot in Baltimore's first-base dugout when Jackson looped a line drive measured at 70.6 mph off his bat. It struck Albernaz in the side of the face and he was immediately escorted down the tunnel to the Orioles' clubhouse by coaches and players.

The ball came up on Albernaz quickly, leaving him virtually helpless to avoid the baseball, though he turned his head and perhaps absorbed a more glancing blow.

Albernaz, the Orioles said, was evaluated on site by the team's medical personnel and returned to the dugout some 45 minutes later. Meanwhile, his team battled back from a six-run deficit to claim the victory.

He did not meet with the media following the game, but bench coach Donnie Ecker told reporters that Albernaz is expected to get a scan but is doing well.

Jackson hit a grand slam one inning after his foul ball struck Albernaz, and the Orioles pulled ahead of the Diamondbacks 8-7 on Pete Alonso's two-run homer in the seventh. Jackson hit his second home run in the eighth.

"It really speaks to what Alby means here and the culture he wants to create," Ecker told reporters. "If it were up to him, he'd be sitting right here. Not surprised to see him (return to the dugout)."