In a setback for the Baltimore Orioles, second baseman Jackson Holliday is slated for surgery this Thursday to mend a broken hamate bone in his right hand, an injury he suffered while swinging the bat during practice on February 6. As reported by CBS News Baltimore, the Orioles' top brass confirmed Holliday will sit out on opening day, leaving the team without one of its emerging talents for the start of the 2026 season.
The 22-year-old Holliday, who racked up a .242 batting average, along with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs last season, was expected to make a significant impact after being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2022. Despite this misfortune, the Orioles have brought in Blaze Alexander from the Diamondbacks, which, "could indicate the former Diamondback could take over second base in Holliday's absence," according to WMAR-2 News. Holliday's recovery timeline span, a few weeks beyond spring training, could offer Alexander a significant stint to prove his worth.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias has also shed light on the health status of third baseman Jordan Westburg. He is on the mend from a right oblique injury, which might delay his participation in the spring training games. The Orioles will have their season opener against the Minnesota Twins on March 26, where the team hopes to make up for their last-place finish in the American League East in 2025.
As the Orioles gear up for a new season, they face the challenge of rebounding from a bottom-of-the-barrel finish last year, without one of their promising young players. The team launched into spring training on Monday in Sarasota, Florida, with the full squad reporting by February 16. The first matchup of the spring, set to occur on February 20 against the Yankees, will miss Holliday's presence on the diamond, however, the Orioles have a full roster of games to shape their lineup ahead of the main season. The last game of the spring training season will pit them against the Washington Nationals on March 23, just before the official games begin.
