Jackson Holliday's injury isn't the Orioles disaster that some may think it is

With the Baltimore Orioles still holding on for dear life in the AL Wild Card hunt, now is the time for all hands on deck. Unfortunately for Jackson Holliday, he will now miss the majority of the team’s most do-or-die stretch of the schedule. Holliday was placed on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation on September 16. While it’s a big blow for a team already dealing with a number of injuries, it’s not the complete end of the world. 

Coming off of a sweep of the Mets at Citi Field, the Orioles are doing their best to keep their postseason dreams alive. While you could probably attribute the team’s never-quit spirit to Pete Alonso and his infectious personality, the Orioles have refused to throw in the towel all season. 

The timing of Holliday’s IL stint is not optimal, but he reportedly attempted to treat his wrist without missing time. While admirable, it has put the team in a tough spot. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz spoke to reporters regarding Holliday’s injury ahead of the team’s series finale against the Mets. 

“He’s been dealing with it for a while and playing through it," Albernaz said of Holliday. "It’s a credit to him. He’s been posting every day and playing through it. But when we get back to Baltimore, he’s going to get some imaging and kind of see where we’re at."

Holliday could return from the IL on September 25, right as the Orioles are set to take on the New York Yankees in their final series of the season. By then, the Orioles could already be eliminated from playoff contention and Holliday would likely sit out the rest of the season. At this point, his injury could open up some interesting opportunities for the team’s offense.

Jackson Holliday has been a black hole in the Orioles’ lineup for most of the season   

It’s no secret that Holliday has been a bit of a letdown since making his Major League debut with the Orioles in 2024. As the former number one overall pick in the MLB Draft in 2022, there were some pretty hefty expectations surrounding Holliday. But since he was the son of former Major League All-Star Matt Holliday, it seemed like a safe bet that he would be able to rake. 

However, with a career .654 OPS in 1,091 at-bats, the only thing that Holliday has raked so far has been the ground while heading his way back to the dugout. And with a .196 batting average and just two home runs since the start of August, Holliday hasn’t done himself or the team any favors down the stretch this season. Without a gifted glove to hide behind, Holliday has unfortunately become dangerously close to being labeled a definitive bust. At just 22 years old, he does have plenty of time to right the ship though.  

SO what can the Orioles do about the second base position at this point in the season? Since Blaze Alexander was placed on the IL back on September 9, there aren't many MLB-level options that the team can turn to. The team’s bullpen may be shaping up quite nicely, but the infield has become a big question mark. 

For now, Jeremiah Jackson will likely get the lion’s share of playing time at second base. He has taken a bit of a step back this season after flashing some initial promise in 2025. But with consistent playing time, Jackson is more than capable of holding down the fort during the final stretch of the season. 

While he went hitless in 18 at-bats in August, Jackson does have a 1.000 OPS in limited playing time in September. With an opportunity to state his case as the club’s starting second baseman moving forward, Jackson could be exactly what the Orioles need as they trail the Chicago White Sox by 2.5 games for the final Wild Card spot.   

The Orioles also selected the contract of infielder José Barrero from Triple-A Norfolk to take Holliday’s place on the active roster. Although he sports a career .495 OPS in five MLB seasons, Barrero did hit 23 home runs in the minors this season, so his bat does have a decent amount of pop in it. 

Holliday’s latest injury is just another road block in his tough 2026 season. Without showing much growth over the last two seasons, the Orioles could be looking to other options for second base in 2027.  

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