Mike Elias Provides Positive Updates on Baltimore Orioles Infielders
· Yahoo Sports
Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias had some positive news to share on two of their most important infielders.
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Elias said Jordan Westburg is expected to enter spring training without restrictions following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Jackson Holliday is recovering on schedule after a procedure on his left wrist, but will be on time as well. Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner reported both updates on X.
Westburg did not play a single regular-season game in 2026. An early oblique issue gave way to a partial UCL tear in his throwing elbow. He tried a platelet-rich plasma injection in February to avoid surgery, but continued discomfort during his throwing progression forced Tommy John surgery in May. It was the latest chapter in a brutal run of injuries for a 27-year-old who has played in 107, 85 and zero games the last three seasons.
When healthy, Westburg is exactly what Baltimore needs in the infield. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2024 despite missing 55 games with a fractured right hand, hitting .264 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI. He owns a .768 career OPS in 260 major league games. The Orioles have seen enough to know what they have. The challenge has been keeping him on the field.
Holliday's 2026 was a bit of a different story. The former No. 1 overall pick broke the hamate bone in his right hand during spring training which delayed his season debut until May 19. He appeared in just 98 games before left wrist inflammation ended his year in September.
Doctors identified a partial tear of the triangular fibrocartilage complex and performed a debridement procedure on Sept. 29.
Holliday hit .229 with seven home runs, 30 RBI and a .640 OPS in those 98 games. The raw numbers are not what anyone projected for the former top prospect, but the injuries explain a big part of the struggles. He is 22 years old and has yet to play a full healthy season at the big-league level. Still, given how crowded Baltimore's infield is, Holliday has been named in several trade rumors and could be available.
The Orioles finished fourth in the AL East at 79-82. Getting Westburg and Holliday into camp healthy and ready to compete from day one does not fix every problem the Orioles have, but it gives Elias a foundation to build around heading into 2027.