Jordan Westburg Sidelined Until May with Partial Ligament Tear in Right Elbow

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg will miss the start of the season due to a partial ligament tear in his right elbow.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg will be sidelined through at least the end of April due to a partial ligament tear in his right elbow. General manager Mike Elias confirmed the diagnosis on Friday, noting that the 27-year-old infielder is receiving a platelet injection to treat the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm. This Jordan Westburg injury update comes as the player was already recovering from a right oblique strain sustained during the offseason, which had prevented him from participating in spring training activities.

Medical Treatment and Return Timeline

The Orioles' medical staff will re-evaluate the infielder’s status after April to determine a specific timeline for his return to the diamond. The current treatment plan focuses on the platelet injection administered this Friday to address the damage in the right elbow. Because the injury affects his throwing arm, the recovery period extends beyond the initial oblique issue that hampered his early spring preparations. Baltimore now faces the prospect of navigating the first month of the regular season without their primary option at the hot corner.

Historical Performance and Previous Injuries

Westburg is coming off a 2024 campaign where he posted a .265 batting average, 18 home runs, and 63 RBIs across 107 games. His performance earned him an All-Star Game appearance, though his season was interrupted just two weeks later by a broken right hand caused by a hit-by-pitch. That specific injury resulted in a nearly two-month absence. In the season prior, the infielder appeared in 85 games, hitting .265 with 17 home runs and 41 RBIs. His tenure has been marked by various physical setbacks, including a left hamstring strain and a right ankle sprain that cost him significant playing time.

Impact on the Orioles Infield Depth

The loss of Westburg creates a significant void in the Baltimore lineup, as the team will officially begin the season without two projected starting infielders. Second baseman Jackson Holliday is also currently unavailable while recovering from a broken hamate bone in his right hand. The 22-year-old Holliday is expected to return to game action by mid-April, slightly ahead of the earliest possible return date for the third baseman. With both the right and left sides of the dirt affected, Mike Elias and the coaching staff must now look to depth options to fill the gaps at second and third base for the opening weeks of the MLB season.