Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday is still working his way back from a right hand injury.
Jackson Holliday has missed the entire season so far with a fractured right hamate bone, and his absence has been a major one for a Baltimore Orioles team that could use infield reinforcements.
The Orioles enter Thursday’s series finale against the Miami Marlins sitting three games under .500, still searching for consistency as they try to climb back into the playoff picture.
On Thursday, the organization announced a positive development regarding their injured young infielder. “The Holliday weekend is starting early at Prince George's Stadium. Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday is set to begin an MLB Rehab Assignment with the Baysox,” the Chesapeake Baysox, the Orioles Double-A affiliate, wrote on X.
The hope now is that Holliday can get through this rehab assignment without the setbacks that have defined his recovery so far. Since fracturing his hamate bone on February 6 during live batting practice, Holliday’s path back has been anything but smooth.
Holliday underwent surgery on February 12, began swinging again in early March, and even started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk in late March. But lingering pain, overcompensation issues in his wrist and multiple shutdowns forced the Orioles to reset his timeline several times.
His second rehab stint ended abruptly on April 21 after a painful swing, sending him back to Baltimore for further testing.
Now, with a fresh assignment at Double-A, the Orioles are cautiously optimistic. If Holliday progresses without discomfort, he could soon return to second base and potentially reclaim his everyday role, a spot that has remained unsettled. After a scorching hot start to 2026, Jeremiah Jackson has struggled mightily over the past two weeks.
Still, Holliday will have to prove himself. Despite entering the league with a ton of hype as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and once being regarded as baseball’s top prospect, he has yet to deliver at the major-league level.
Through his first 209 career games, Holliday owns a .229 batting average, .300 on-base percentage, .659 OPS, 22 home runs and 78 RBIs. His defense at second base has also been below-average, adding pressure for him to show improvement upon his return.
For a Baltimore team sitting at 17-20 and fighting to prove they belong in the AL playoff race, Holliday’s rehab assignment represents a big step forward. Perhaps, the 22-year-old son of former MLB legend Matt Holliday can be the spark that Baltimore has been waiting for.