THE APEX TIMES
In his first weeks on the job, Jared Banner has been leaning on franchise legend Cal Ripken Jr. as Baltimore’s front office emphasizes fundamentals, instruction, and development as the team looks to return to the postseason after two straight misses.
Jared Banner is less than a month into his tenure as the Baltimore Orioles’ general manager, hired Oct. 19, and he is already spending major time learning the organization’s traditions and expectations through the club’s most recognizable former player.
At a press introduction at Camden Yards, Banner framed the early work as listening and learning Orioles culture, while looking to add a “fresh perspective” to what the organization already does. Among the most prominent voices in that learning process is Cal Ripken Jr., who spent his entire 21-year Hall of Fame career in Baltimore and whose No. 8 was retired by the Orioles.
Ripken is also tied to the Orioles’ baseball operations in the present, as part of the David Rubenstein-led ownership group that purchased the team in March 2024. The club has also described Ripken as taking a more hands-on role this year with player development.
When Banner was interviewing for the GM role, he met with president of baseball operations Mike Elias, president of business operations Catie Griggs, and members of the ownership group, including Ripken. Shortly after Banner’s hiring, the organization said Banner and Ripken met for lunch to continue that dialogue.
Ripken’s involvement is rooted in a recent instruction-focused push. The Orioles said Ripken worked closely this past season with upper-level coordinator of instruction Mike Shildt on fundamentals, with an added emphasis on the “little things” that the front office believes can separate players over time.
The front office has connected that development emphasis directly to the next phase of work. Elias said the organization wanted to bolster instruction across teaching fundamentals, X’s and O’s preparation, and defensive and technical details, and that Banner’s involvement will be part of accelerating that approach. Elias also remains the president of baseball operations and will work alongside Banner on the department going forward.
Banner’s outreach has not been limited to Ripken. The club said he has also been in contact with manager Craig Albernaz, with Albernaz set to return for a second season as Orioles manager in 2027, and he has spoken with Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer (who now works as a broadcaster for MASN) and Orioles Hall of Famer Adam Jones, who serves the organization as a special advisor to Elias and community ambassador.
Banner cast those conversations as part of a team-building “puzzle” in which he and others in the organization will seek ways to make the Orioles better moving forward, positioning the early learning period as active work rather than a passive transition.