After injury-filled '25, Westburg frustrated by oblique tweak: 'Here we are again'

SARASOTA, Fla. -- After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Jordan Westburg was hopeful for better health in '26. That's why it's even more frustrating for the soon-to-be 27-year-old infielder to be dealing with a tweaked right oblique at the beginning of Orioles Spring Training this year.

"For me personally, it’s disappointing,” Westburg said. “It felt like when I was on the field [last year], I played pretty well. The struggle was staying on the field. So my biggest takeaway going into the offseason was kind of like, 'What can I do in preparation to try to put together a full season?' Worked really hard this year with a physical therapist to get my body feeling about as good as I have my whole career. ...

“I felt like I was doing everything right, and here we are again.”

Westburg's summation was correct. The 2024 All-Star slashed .265/.313/.457 with 10 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs and 41 RBIs in 85 games in '25. However, he had two stints on the injured list due to a left hamstring strain (April 27-June 10) and a right ankle sprain (Aug. 19-Sept. 16).

In 2024, Westburg was limited to 107 games due to a right hand fracture that caused him to be on the IL from Aug. 1-Sept. 22 that year.

This time, there was no specific event that led to Westburg's right oblique soreness. He woke up with discomfort one morning in January and didn't know what the issue stemmed from.

"The frustrating aspect of this is, I don’t have an instance that I can like pinpoint when this happened," Westburg said. "It’s kind of one of those things where I woke up a little bit sore, tried to be smart about it, cut down on swinging and throwing and everything, reported it to the trainers. And then as the day that I noticed it went along, it just got worse and worse, so I figured there was an issue there. Thankfully, I was able to get up to Baltimore, get an MRI, get things started rehab-wise before I got down here."

Westburg doesn't want to put a timetable on his potential return, but president of baseball operations Mike Elias isn't expecting Westburg's Opening Day status to be in jeopardy. He is, however, expected to be late getting into Grapefruit League play, though he may only miss a few games.

At this point, Westburg is participating in running and agility drills at O's camp. The most important thing is that he's trending in the right direction in his rehab.

"I feel pretty good now,” Westburg said. “I’m happy with the way things are progressing."

Who's on second?
The Orioles haven't yet decided how they'll handle the playing time at second base with Jackson Holliday (broken hamate bone in right hand) set to open the season on the injured list. It's been a topic of discussion among Elias, manager Craig Albernaz and others early in camp.

Westburg is again projected to be the starting third baseman (if healthy), but he is capable of playing second.

"As of right now, mentally, I'm preparing for third," Westburg said. "If I get asked to move over and take some more reps at second base, man, I don't mind it. I like playing second base, too. I'll do whatever the team needs me to do."

Another candidate is Jeremiah Jackson, the 25-year-old utility man battling for a spot on the bench. He was among the players taking ground balls at second during defensive work on Friday.

"I'm just going to do whatever I can to stay ready, be as versatile as possible and get on the roster any way I can," Jackson said.

Mountcastle's role?
Another imminent talking point between Elias, Albernaz and the Orioles' staff will be how best to utilize Ryan Mountcastle, who is now behind Pete Alonso on the depth chart at first base and part of a roster logjam with Coby Mayo. Albernaz said there will be a discussion next week once full-squad workouts begin.

Mountcastle isn't treating this camp any differently, even if his path to playing time isn't as clear.

"Just going out there and putting in the work," Mountcastle said. "Wherever the chips fall, that's what happens."

Alby's scuffle strategy
Albernaz noted there's a lot of "big dudes" in O's camp, giving him a strategy for any benches-clearing fracases that ensue this season.

"I'll be hiding in the back behind them, coming out like a spider monkey, because these guys are huge," Albernaz said. "Like the sneak-attack approach."