Jackson's surprise rise has been a huge boost for Orioles

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CLEVELAND -- The hottest player on the Orioles this week -- and, arguably, their top player through the first three weeks of the 2026 season -- isn’t one of MLB’s biggest stars. His name isn’t likely familiar to casual fans. He probably isn’t too well known outside of Baltimore.

But at this point, he should be.

Jeremiah Jackson has unexpectedly emerged as one of Baltimore’s biggest contributors. Nobody could have seen this coming from the 26-year-old, especially this time last year, when he was playing for Double-A Chesapeake, marking his fourth straight season at Double-A. But it’s been quite an ascension for Jackson since arriving in the big leagues last Aug. 1.

After hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning of the Orioles’ 6-4 comeback win over the Guardians on Friday night, Jackson is hitting .317 (19-for-60) with two doubles, five home runs, a team-high 17 RBIs and a .923 OPS through 18 games.

“Right now, I don’t think there’s anyone in baseball feeling better than him,” O’s infielder Coby Mayo said.

“Yeah, swinging it well,” Jackson modestly said of his hot start.

So, who is Jackson, and where did he come from?

A 2018 second-round Draft pick of the Angels, Jackson couldn’t get over the Double-A hump in the Halos’ system. He was traded to the Mets in exchange for right-handed reliever Dominic Leone on Aug. 1, 2023, but he couldn’t climb above Double-A for New York either, spending the rest of ‘23 and ‘24 at the level.

When Jackson signed a Minor League deal with the Orioles on Nov. 25, 2024, the move went under the radar. But a solid showing for Chesapeake in 2025 (a .254 average and a .703 OPS in 45 games) earned him a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he hit .377 with a 1.073 OPS over 40 contests.

Because Baltimore was out of contention last year -- and it needed to fill roster spots after a Trade Deadline fire sale -- Jackson got his first MLB opportunity. He didn’t let it go to waste, as he hit .276 with a .775 OPS over 48 games.

It wasn’t a guarantee that Jackson would make the O’s Opening Day roster in 2026, but injuries to Jackson Holliday (right hamate surgery) and Jordan Westburg (partial UCL tear) opened spots. Although Jackson played right field and third base in the big leagues last year, his primary position in the Minors was second, so it made sense for Baltimore to carry him.

Now, Jackson is among the club’s offensive leaders in hits (second with 19) and home runs (second with five), while ranking high among the RBI leaders in the American League.

One of Jackson’s most notable offensive traits is his aggressiveness at the plate. He hasn’t drawn a walk this season, and he often doesn’t work the count deep. He doesn’t need to.

On first pitches, Jackson is hitting .154 (2-for-13). However, his numbers on second pitches have been quite impressive:

1-0 count: 6-for-8 (.750), 1 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI
0-1 count: 3-for-6 (.500), 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Combined: 9-for-14 (.643), 2 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI

“Pitchers here are good. I don’t see the point in getting myself in a hole,” Jackson said. “If I see something early on that I like, or I feel like I can handle well, I try to get a good swing off. Obviously, the game and the flow will dictate a lot of that. But if you’re going to put something over the middle of the plate early on, I’d like to hit it.”

Simple as that.

Perhaps more impressive (and less expected) has been Jackson’s defense at second base. His two Defensive Runs Saved rank third on the O’s behind only outfielder Taylor Ward and first baseman Pete Alonso (three apiece).

Jackson has also shown impressive range, completing several diving plays this week alone.

“[Infield coach Miguel] Cairo’s awesome, getting in a lot of work with him, [third-base coach] Buck [Britton], [manager Craig Albernaz], too,” Jackson said. “I came up playing a lot of middle infield. So I just had to, I guess, in a way, get calibrated to second over the left side of the infield. I feel good over there.”

The effort has been much appreciated.

“J.J. made a heck of a play [Friday],” right-hander Shane Baz said. “He’s been really fun to watch and play with.”

“This is a great example of a player putting in the work,” Albernaz added. “Whatever’s asked of him, he’ll do, and you’re just seeing that shine right now.”

Is Jackson at all surprised by how much his baseball career has changed in the past year?

“I always knew that I could have some success,” Jackson said. “I always knew that it was possible.”