Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg suffered a fractured proper hand when he was hit by a pitch within the fifth inning right this moment, O’s skipper Brandon Hyde introduced following the sport (X hyperlink by way of Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Solar). There’s no fast timetable for his return. Hyde mentioned he hopes Westburg will be capable to return earlier than the tip of the common season, however that’s not a certainty for now.
The lack of Westburg, 25, is a gut-punch for the Orioles. The previous No. 30 general decide (2020) has produced a .269/.317/.497 batting line this season with 18 homers, 25 doubles, 5 triples, six steals and high quality glovework as Baltimore’s major third baseman. Westburg has hit from the second the season started and hasn’t at any level gone right into a prolonged droop. He’ll head to the 10-day injured listing tomorrow, although the O’s may transfer him to the 60-day IL in the event that they want a roster spot and in the event that they count on the harm to sideline him for the rest of the common season.
Happily for the O’s, they’re exceptionally deep in infield expertise — even after yesterday’s commerce of Connor Norby to the Marlins (in return for lefty Trevor Rogers). Baltimore known as high prospect Jackson Holliday again to the majors right this moment — he hit a grand slam for his first huge league homer — and fellow high prospect Coby Mayo and his highly effective bat are looming in Triple-A Norfolk. Holliday may see time at both third base or second base, although the latter feels extra possible. If the O’s don’t need to flip to Mayo simply but, utilityman Ramon Urias no less than gives surehanded protection on the scorching nook and a roughly league-average bat to fit into the underside of the order.
That mentioned, all eyes determine to show to Mayo till the O’s resolve on their plan of action. The 22-year-old slugger was chosen simply 73 picks after Westburg again in 2020 and has clobbered Triple-A pitching thus far in 2024. Mayo touts a .293/.366/.578 batting line with 20 homers and doubles alike, along with a pair of triples. His stroll fee has dipped from 15.7% in 267 Triple-A plate appearances final 12 months to 9.7% in 331 plate appearances this season, however that’s nonetheless a powerful mark, significantly when coupled with what many scouting studies really feel is 70-grade uncooked energy.
Options down in Norfolk embody the just-optioned Terrin Vavra and just-acquired Livan Soto, each of whom have expertise at third base. Neither could be anticipated to return anyplace near Westburg’s manufacturing, however each may maintain down a utility function if the Orioles need Mayo to proceed creating. Whether it is certainly time for Mayo to make his huge league debut, Baltimore might want to make a transfer to get him on the 40-man roster.
