Cal Ripken Jr. returned to the Orioles in a professional capacity prior to the 2024 season, when he became a partner in the David Rubenstein-led ownership group that purchased the team. But this year, the Iron Man’s involvement with his former club is going beyond the business side.
Ripken, a Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players in O’s history, has become an increased presence in the team’s player development process, according to multiple sources with knowledge of Ripken’s role in the organization. The club has not confirmed Ripken’s participation in such matters, which was first reported by The Athletic on Thursday.
Throughout this season, Ripken has assisted in educating the fundamentals of the game, with the majority of his involvement coming on the Minor League side, per a source. Ripken has also been a strong resource for president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias during that time, a source said.
Baltimore overhauled the structure of its player development department prior to the 2026 campaign. Former Cardinals and Padres manager Mike Shildt was hired as upper-level coordinator of instruction, while Samuel Vega was promoted to lower-level coordinator of instruction. They work closely with Minor League field coordinator Jeff Kunkel and director of player development Anthony Villa.
Ripken has since become a valuable resource to that group as well. And who better to have in such a role than the 21-year MLB veteran who played in a record 2,632 consecutive games?
“Having Cal around is such a value -- an understatement,” manager Craig Albernaz told reporters prior to Thursday’s series finale in Seattle. “The thing with Cal is he has such a great way about him. He has a wealth of knowledge. Obviously, his playing career speaks for itself, and he has such a great way of disarming everyone when you talk to him.
“And he never uses the word ‘I,” like, ‘How I did things,’ or, ‘How we did.’”
During Spring Training, Ripken was a frequent visitor at big league camp, where he talked with players throughout the roster. It’s also not uncommon for the 65-year-old to make appearances at Camden Yards, where he often sits in a seat in the front row behind home plate.
Ripken was seen in the O’s clubhouse several hours before a game earlier this month, as he made sure to greet players such as Gunnar Henderson, Coby Mayo and others.
One of the biggest pros of having a resource such as Ripken is his ability to help with a “think tank of idea sharing” to figure out “what’s best for the players,” Albernaz said.
“He never feels like his way is the right way,” Albernaz said. “It’s more of an open dialogue of how he sees the game, how everyone else sees the game and just being a resource for everyone in the organization. He’s been great to have conversations with this year, popping in, talking even with our hitting guys and [infield coach Miguel Cairo] and [third-base coach] Buck [Britton] about infield play.”
During Albernaz’s first year as skipper, he has put a strong emphasis on better fundamentals. The Orioles have had periods in which they’ve struggled to play clean baseball, but the manager often notes how “development is messy” and that it takes time for players to reach their potential in that regard.
Ripken has never been a coach, and he wasn’t too involved with the O’s following his retirement after the 2001 season. But the Havre de Grace, Md., native has Orioles baseball in his blood -- his dad, Cal Sr., was a longtime coach in the organization who served as the club’s manager in 1985, ‘87 and ‘88. Cal Jr.’s brother, Billy, also played for the team from 1987-92, and in ‘96.
So it’s no surprise that Ripken has become hands-on with the only organization he played for during his legendary career. Nor is it a shock that his involvement has had to do with fundamentals -- after all, that’s the hallmark of the “Oriole Way” philosophy that his dad helped establish during a successful period for the organization in the 1970s and ‘80s.