Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday has not played at the major-league level in 2026.
The Baltimore Orioles infield will not get Jordan Westburg back during the 2026 MLB season. He has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and will spend the rest of the year on the 60-day injured list.
With Westburg down for the season, the return of infielder Jackson Holliday has become even more important. Holliday has been taking reps at third base, Westburg’s primary position, as the Orioles look to develop him into a reliable option at the hot corner. Holliday has only played at second base at the major-league level.
Holliday’s injury timeline up until this point has been long and frustrating. He first fractured his right hamate bone in February and was expected to return in early April.
Instead, he has dealt with multiple setbacks, with his first two rehab assignments cut short due to persistent pain and discomfort. Now on his third rehab assignment, he finally appears to have turned a corner according to Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias.
“We are hopeful to get Jackson Holliday back soon. He is still getting his groove and getting his feet under him, but I think he is healthy this time. I think that will help stabilize the infield situation,” Elias said (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com).
Holliday’s activation could come by the end of May, as he has now been moved up to Triple-A Norfolk to prepare for a return to the Orioles in what will be his third season in the big leagues.
The former No. 1 overall pick and former top prospect in baseball has not lived up to expectations so far. He is still just 22 years old, so there is time, but the early results have been underwhelming.
In 209 career games, he owns a .229 batting average, .314 on-base percentage, .690 OPS, 22 home runs and 78 RBIs. Defensively, he has not stood out either, which is why the Orioles are eager to see whether third base can be a better long-term fit.
If Holliday can tap into his potential sooner rather than later, it would be a massive boost for an Orioles team that has not lived up to expectations without him.
Baltimore is now five games under .500 after Friday’s loss to the Washington Nationals in the series opener. They will look to bounce back quickly as they await Holliday’s long-anticipated return. If all goes well, he could return to the starting nine by the end of May.