SARASOTA, Fla. -- MLB managers often caution to not read too much into Spring Training lineups. Teams aren’t worried about winning games, so the construction of the batting order is more about getting players their work in -- guys who need to get more at-bats (or will be playing only a few innings on defense) are put higher in the lineup.
Soon, though, the philosophy changes. Craig Albernaz will set his lineup for a game in what he’ll believe is the optimal order to win that contest. And the first-year Orioles manager appears at least somewhat open to moving pieces around when necessary.
“Matchups, who’s comfortable hitting where, all of that comes into play when making lineups. And that’s something where we just have to be open and honest with our players, too, in looping them in,” Albernaz said. “Last thing we want to do is surprise anyone. So for us as a coaching staff, we just have to make sure we’re in constant communication with those guys.”
Don’t expect Albernaz to reveal his exact plans before the end of Spring Training, as he’s been holding information close to the vest in his first camp as a big league skipper. That’s why it will be quite interesting to see Baltimore’s first 2026 lineup on March 26, when the O’s open the season vs. the Twins at Camden Yards.
One burning question is this: Who will bat leadoff for the Orioles?
Ask Albernaz and he won’t give any names. But does he have a preference as to what an ideal leadoff hitter looks like in this era of baseball?
“It all depends,” Albernaz said. “Depends on the hitter, depends on the pitcher, depends on the team we’re playing. Depends on a lot of different stuff.”
Again, it appears Albernaz is open to a rotation there rather than an everyday leadoff man.
Entering Spring Training, the O’s had three prime candidates for the leadoff role: Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Taylor Ward. In 2025, Holliday made 113 starts in the No. 1 hole, but the 22-year-old won’t be there at the beginning of ‘26, as he’ll open the season on the injured list after breaking the hamate bone in his right hand.
That leaves Henderson and Ward as the front-runners. It could end up being both. Maybe the left-handed-hitting Henderson bats leadoff against right-handed starters, with the righty-hitting Ward moving to the top of the order against lefty starting pitchers.
Henderson spent much of the 2024 season at leadoff -- and he had success, batting .294 with 31 home runs and a .941 OPS in 119 starts -- but he was primarily the No. 3 hitter in ‘25. The 24-year-old is versatile enough to slot anywhere, though he fits well in a run-producing position.
So Ward could be the early favorite to bat atop the order, perhaps even against both righties and lefties. The 32-year-old outfielder has most often been slotted at cleanup (179 starts) and leadoff (169) over his first eight MLB seasons, but No. 1 hasn’t been his primary spot since ‘23.
If a more regular return to leadoff is coming in 2026, Ward is open to it.
“Really, it doesn’t matter to me. I mean, hit me ninth, eighth, I really don’t care,” Ward said. “I try to treat it like the same thing, just all the same. I like to keep it simple like that. So wherever Alby wants to put me, I’m good for it.”
As mentioned before, it’s important to not read too much into spring lineups. At the same time, Ward has been the leadoff hitter in each of his past three Grapefruit League games, including for Sunday night’s matchup vs. the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Maybe the starts there are coming later to get him used to it.
Wherever Ward slots in, he’s capable of doing damage. He hit 31 doubles and 36 homers while posting a .792 OPS in 157 games last season, and he drew 75 walks in 663 plate appearances (an 11.3% rate that tied for ninth best in the American League).
"Same approach,” said Ward, who came to the Orioles in a trade on Nov. 19. “I’m really just hunting the pitch I’m looking for, the location I’m looking for, and going no matter what.”
It’s been easy to overlook Ward a bit this spring, as his acquisition was largely overshadowed by that of another right-handed power hitter (Pete Alonso). But Ward is likely to make a big impact to Baltimore’s lineup this year.
We just won’t know what spot in the order Ward will be doing it from for another 11 days.