The Baltimore Orioles are facing an early challenge in spring training as Jordan Westburg continues to recover from a right elbow injury that will sideline him to begin the 2026 season. With Opening Day approaching in less than a week, the team is now preparing to move forward without one of its key infielders for at least the first month.

Westburg is dealing with a partially torn UCL in his right throwing elbow, an injury that has forced Baltimore to take a cautious, non‑surgical approach. He is currently undergoing conservative treatment, including a platelet‑rich plasma injection, in hopes of avoiding surgery altogether. At this point, he has not resumed baseball activities, signaling that his recovery process is still in its early stages.

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On Sunday at spring training, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias provided a clearer timeline for Westburg’s return. According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, when asked if Westburg would be ready by May, Elias said no and expects his IL stint to last until at least May. As Elias put it, “Things are going fine so far, but we still have a lot of time ahead of us.”

That injury update confirms Westburg will miss a meaningful portion of the early season, which is a significant loss for a Baltimore team looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 campaign. The 27‑year‑old is entering his fourth MLB season and has already established himself as an important part of the Orioles lineup.

Westburg earned his first All‑Star selection in 2024 and followed it up with another productive year in 2025 despite dealing with multiple injuries once again. Across 85 games last season, he hit .265 with a .313 on‑base percentage and .770 OPS, adding 17 home runs and 41 RBIs. His ability to provide power while playing solid defense has made him a key contributor when healthy.

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In his absence, the Orioles are expected to rely on Coby Mayo to take over at third base, while Blaze Alexander, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in February, should also see opportunities.

While Baltimore has improved its depth, losing Westburg early is far from ideal. Still, if his recovery continues to progress without setbacks, a return sometime in May could provide a much‑needed boost as the Orioles look to reestablish themselves as playoff contenders. The front office had a busy offseason revamping the lineup and with Westburg inserted it becomes a lot stronger.