Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias revealed that infielder Jackson Holliday suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss Opening Day, per Jacob Calvin Meyer. Holliday is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday after suffering the injury last week during batting practice. According to Meyer, Elias said the infielder's injury timeline will be "measured in weeks." So, at the moment, there is seemingly no clear timeline for his return.

Holliday, 22, was previously regarded as a top prospect. He has had a difficult beginning to his big league career, but Holliday's potential remains undeniable. Overall, Holliday has hit .229 to go along with a .659 OPS across 209 total MLB games. 

In 2025 -- his first full season in the big leagues -- Holliday slashed .242/.314/.375 across 649 plate appearances. He added 17 home runs, 21 doubles, 70 runs scored, 55 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

The O's are hopeful he can take the next step forward this year, but Holliday's injury leaves room for uncertainty at the moment.

The Orioles will need to pivot from an infield standpoint amid Holliday's injury. Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson will obviously maintain their positions at first base and shortstop. Jordan Westburg may play third base. As for the second base position, Blaze Alexander could be an option. Jeremiah Jackson could also be a candidate.

One has to wonder if Baltimore would consider bringing in another infielder for depth purposes. The Orioles' decision may come down to Holliday's injury timeline. 

If he is expected to miss an extended period of time, the Orioles may seriously consider a trade or signing. If not, they could wait. While each specific circumstance is different, a broken hamate bone timeline sometimes ends up being around five to eight weeks. As mentioned, though, there is no specific timeline for Holliday's injury at the moment. 

Baltimore is hoping to compete in 2026 following a challenging '25 campaign. The roster still features talent and depth, but Holliday's absence is a difficult blow without question. The Orioles were able to bring in a number of impactful players this offseason -- including Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward -- so their offense should still be able to find some level of success.

Still, Jackson Holliday will certainly be missed. The Orioles will provide updates on his injury status as they are made available.