Craig Albernaz had an update on Jordan Westburg's injury after an Orioles roster move on Wednesday.
The Baltimore Orioles received an important update on Jordan Westburg following a roster move ahead of their matchup on Wednesday with the Texas Rangers.
Westburg has been dealing with a right elbow injury since the beginning of spring training, and while the latest transaction impacts his timeline, it does not necessarily reflect a setback in his recovery.
On Wednesday, ahead of Baltimore’s game against Texas, the team officially moved Westburg to the 60‑day injured list with his right elbow UCL sprain. This will delay his return until at least May. However, the move did not result in any setback for Westburg.
Manager Craig Albernaz spoke with reporters and shared that Westburg is actually making progress with his baseball activities. He has started to swing a bat along with playing catch (h/t Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun).
That update is encouraging considering the nature of his injury. Westburg sustained a partial UCL tear in his right elbow in mid-February 2026 during spring training. Instead of undergoing surgery, he received a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection in hopes of allowing the ligament to heal naturally.
While the Orioles will now be without him for at least the first portion of the season, the fact that he has resumed baseball activities suggests his recovery is trending in the right direction.
His absence is still a significant blow to Baltimore’s lineup. Westburg is one of the club’s most productive hitters when healthy, and his ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively makes him a key piece. Assuming he returns later this season, this will mark his fourth year at the big‑league level.
The 27‑year‑old has consistently produced when on the field, even while dealing with injuries. In 2025, he appeared in just 85 games but still posted a .265 batting average, .313 on base percentage and .770 OPS with 17 home runs and 41 RBIs. His breakout came the year prior when he earned an American League All‑Star selection in 2024.
Since being selected in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, expectations have remained high for Westburg, and he has shown flashes of becoming one of the better infielders in the league.
Once he is reinserted into the lineup, the Orioles offense becomes significantly more dangerous. For a team looking to return to postseason contention, having Westburg healthy could play a major role in shaping their season.
For now, the key takeaway is that despite the move to the 60‑day injured list, his recovery continues to move forward without any setbacks.