Holliday to Start Season on Injured List After Hamate Fracture

This article digs into the Baltimore Orioles’ latest injury news and what it might mean for spring training and the regular season. There’s a lot to unpack around Jackson Holliday’s hamate bone injury, shifting infield depth, and the state of the pitching staff as camp moves along.

Injury Update: Holliday lands on the IL

Jackson Holliday will miss the start of the season after he broke the hamate bone in his right hand during live batting practice on February 6. Dr. Steven Shin plans to remove the bone this week in Los Angeles.

Orioles president of baseball operations and GM Mike Elias called it a common, short-term setback for hitters. Holliday won’t make Opening Day, but the team expects him back in weeks, not months.

Impact on the infield and roster depth

Holliday’s injury shakes up the infield picture. Jordan Westburg now looks like the main internal candidate to cover second base when he’s not at third.

The club brought in Blaze Alexander, a utility infielder who can move around the diamond and even handle some outfield. He was already in the mix for a roster spot.

Elias said the Orioles have several internal options for second base. He’s keeping an eye on outside possibilities, but seems pretty confident in the depth they’ve built.

• Jordan Westburg leads the internal options at second base, though he’s dealing with a minor oblique tweak that could keep him out of a few exhibition games.
• Blaze Alexander brings flexibility all over the field and should compete for a roster job.
• The Orioles have solid internal depth and haven’t ruled out adding from outside if needed.

Pitching updates and bullpen notes

The injury list doesn’t end with Holliday. Colin Selby heads to the IL too, battling right shoulder inflammation and falling behind in his throwing program—he probably won’t be ready for Opening Day.

On the mound, Zach Eflin is working back from August back surgery and throwing bullpens without any hiccups so far. Tyler Wells is prepping as a starter, but the Orioles haven’t closed the door on using him in relief if needed.

Chayce McDermott stays in the bullpen mix. The club isn’t setting a strict innings limit for Kyle Bradish—they’ll just keep tabs on him as things progress.

• Zach Eflin keeps building his throwing program and looks good so far.
• Tyler Wells is prepping as a starter, with the possibility of relief appearances still on the table.
• Colin Selby is behind schedule and won’t be ready for Opening Day.
• Chayce McDermott stays in the bullpen, adding some late-inning depth.
• Kyle Bradish won’t have a set innings cap—they’ll just monitor him closely.

Season outlook and the Bautista twist

One of the biggest questions this year is about Félix Bautista. He had surgery on his right labrum and rotator cuff, so he’s expected to miss most (if not all) of the season.

Elias said Bautista’s rehab is off to a strong start, but a late-season return isn’t guaranteed. His absence leaves a big hole in the late innings, so other relievers will need to step up as the season moves along.

What fans should watch in spring training

Spring games are finally here, and there’s a lot to keep an eye on. First off, Holliday’s rehab timeline could really shake up the Orioles’ long-term plans for the middle infield.

Then there’s Westburg. When he’s back and feeling good, how he performs will say a lot about who gets the nod at second base.

The bullpen’s in a bit of flux, too. Selby’s replacement is still up in the air, and it’ll be interesting to see how Eflin, Wells, and Bradish slot in—starter, reliever, or maybe a little of both?

And let’s not forget Bautista. His recovery? That’s probably the best indicator of how the Orioles’ bullpen will shape up for the second half, and maybe even how far they can go late in the season.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Holliday will begin season on injured list after breaking hamate bone