Orioles injured infielders' uncertain return timelines could play to their advantage

While the Baltimore Orioles are far from the only team already dealing with difficulties down at spring training, the start of their camp was still pretty brutal. Jackson Holliday suffered a fluke injury that threatens his early-season availability, and now Jordan Westburg is trying to avoid having Tommy John surgery. For an Orioles team that needs some things to break their way, that was not a banner start to 2026.

However, that doesn't mean this situation doesn't have at least some positives that could come from it. While Baltimore certainly wouldn't have preferred to lose two guys from their starting lineup before the regular season even starts, Holliday and Westburg's absences do make giving their other infield options longer auditions a whole lot easier.

Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg getting hurt was costly, but the Orioles could capitalize by using the extra time to build a deeper roster

In an ideal world, the Orioles wouldn't have any tough choices in their infield. Holliday and Westburg being healthy and performing well simply makes Baltimore a better team than if they are out. That was obviously creating some roster challenges of the Orioles' own making, but that would definitely be the best choice.

Unfortunately, that choice is not available to Baltimore at this point unless medical treatments from the realm of science fiction become reality. However, not needing to give playing time to Holliday and Westburg so that they can ramp up for the regular season will allow for much more earnest and thorough evaluations of players like Coby Mayo, Jeremiah Jackson, Ryan Mountcastle, and Luis Vasquez.

Are any of those players likely to move the needle for the Orioles much in 2026? Not necessarily, but that isn't really the point. Holliday and Westburg are going to be out for a while regardless of how the Orioles respond. By using this time to get better looks at the various infield candidates in camp, the Orioles can at least build the best roster depth possible.

This may seem like a fringe benefit, but it isn't. The injuries to Holliday and Westburg are a reminder that things do not always go to plan in baseball, and you have to have solid backup plans to prepare for the unexpected. By having these injuries happen now, the Orioles can get those preparations done now instead of on the fly.