Orioles third base Jordan Westburg diagnosed with a torn portion of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, president of baseball operations Mike Elias announced to reporters this morning (via Jake Rill of MLB.com). For now, Westburg will not undergo surgery. He will receive an injection of platelet-rich plasma today in hopes of avoiding an internal brace or a Tommy John procedure, which will likely sideline him for most or all of the year. Westburg will miss at least the month of April. The rest of the schedule will depend on how well the PRP injection works.
Given the timing of the injury, it makes sense that Westburg would opt to inject, rest and rehab rather than go under the knife too soon. The recovery time for position players returning from UCL surgery is shorter than pitchers but it still usually takes at least six months to return as a hitter, although the timelines vary depending on whether a complete reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) or a minor repair (internal brace) is required.
For example, Bryce Harper had Tommy John surgery on Nov. 2022 and was on the field as a DH about five and a half months later. Trevor’s story had an internal brace fusion procedure on Jan. 2023 and returned to the field as a shortstop seven months later. Every injury is different, and we don’t know how much Westburg is dealing with. Based on other recent presentations like Harper and Story, quick surgery would likely lead to the best scenario for Westburg to return as a DH in August, with a chance to play third base late in the regular season.
Yes, there’s a strong possibility that surgery right now could cost Westburg the entire 2026 campaign. If the O’s and the medical experts Westburg consulted with felt that was the likely outcome and that he would be sidelined until next spring anyway, then this is a reasonable course of action. By going the PRP route, Westburg gives himself the best chance to be available for a good chunk of the 2026 season — and if he has to undergo surgery in May, he’ll still be expected to be ready for next year’s spring training.
Elias detailed (via Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner) that Westburg felt some elbow discomfort while throwing during his recovery from a known elbow injury. Imaging revealed a tear in his elbow, which doctors now believe has been there for some time. There’s no word yet on whether the PRP will prove to be enough, but Elias suggested Westburg could return as the designated hitter if the injection appears to be holding up.
Even if Westburg “only” missed a few months of the season rather than an entire year, it’s still a significant loss for Baltimore. The O’s will be without a second baseman Jackson Holiday On Opening Day after his recent surgery to repair a broken hamate, so they will be down 50% of their starting lineup.
Westburg, 27, has been a complete, productive player since the start of 2023. He is a career .264/.312/.456 hitter with 38 homers, 53 doubles and eight triples in 1,027 career plate appearances. However, injuries often kept him off the field. He missed time with a broken hand, hamstring sprain and ankle sprain in his two combined seasons at the MLB level. He’s yet to reach the 107-game mark in a major league season, and today’s injury revelation casts serious doubt on whether he’ll be able to carry that career-high mark into 2026.
With Westburg and Holliday both shut down, the Orioles’ Opening Day outfield will have a much different look than expected. The former’s high hopes Coby Mayo he focused his offseason and spring work at third base and figures to open the season there in place of Westburg. Commercial acquisition Blaze Alexander he can handle third base if Mayo struggles too much, but he’s also one of the options to open the season at second instead of Holliday. Utilityman Jeremiah Jackson he can enter time in any place.
It’s also possible the Orioles could bring in some veteran outfield depth. Old friends Ramón Urías, Jose Iglesias again Emmanuel Rivera stay unsigned, as veterans of the options do Luis Urías (Ramon’s younger brother) and Jon Berti. Spring training always results in a handful of players being placed on waivers, as undrafted veterans or prospects make their clubs and are selected to the 40-man roster with their current team. Some of those non-member doctors who don’t work out with their current team could come out or be granted waivers later in camp, which could give Baltimore other options to consider.
