Jackson Holliday setback quietly reshapes this Orioles roster battle

For a player like 2025 breakout surprise Jeremiah Jackson, the path to a spot on the Baltimore Orioles' Opening Day roster looked complicated at the end of January. It got even more bleak come February, when the Orioles swung a trade for utilityman extraordinaire Blaze Alexander. It seemed as if both versatile chess pieces would be battling for the final bench spot. Now, only a couple of short weeks later, they'll be battling again, but this time for spots in the starting lineup.

Jackson Holliday's fractured hamate bone opened the door to a lot of questions about what realistic expectations for him should be. He underwent surgery on February 12, and could see his recovery linger into the regular season's first few weeks.

That likely opened the door for one of these bench pieces to not only secure their roster spot, but also win a job in the starting lineup. Then Jordan Westburg went down with a sore oblique that brings about questions regarding his recovery timeline.

Now with two spots in the Orioles starting lineup up for grabs, at least temporarily, the field competing for Opening Day roster spots will only grow. Expect Coby Mayo to jump into the third base mix, fighting with Jackson and Alexander for that role while the latter two also duke it out for second base reps. Things are about to get really interesting.

Orioles' unfortunate injury luck with Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg will transform the infield roster battle

This is going to be a fascinating development that could have far-reaching implications for both the first few weeks of the season and the 2026 campaign as a whole. For one, it's now nearly a lock that both Jackson and Alexander make the opening day roster. Jackson was already in a dicey spot since he still has options remaining, and Alexander doesn't. He seemed set to begin the season in Norfolk by default. That may no longer be the case.

This situation also gives Mayo a new lease on life. The Orioles will see if his fantastic September, when he slashed .301/.393/.548, is more indicative of who he can be than the larger struggles he faced across 2025.

This situation also puts Leody Tavares on notice. The Orioles picked up the 27-year-old as an interesting reclamation project. Part of his value is his ability to play center field, which the Orioles are lacking on the bench despite the plethora of outfielders at their disposal. However, the addition of Alexander could change that. While his center field experience is limited, he does have some, and more importantly, possesses the speed and athleticism to believe he could handle the position in a backup role.

Jackson's outfield versatility will play a role here, too. Tyler O'Neill isn't going anywhere because of his salary, but the need in the infield plus Jackson's ability to play the corner outfield spots could help him make the team when that had originally seemed to be a long shot.

Jackson, Alexander, and Mayo still might be fighting for two spots, but those who win out might also earn the right to stick around once these injured starters return, making this a prime opportunity for whoever wins.