Orioles Need Holliday and Westburg Breakouts to Fuel Offense

The Baltimore Orioles entered the 2025 season with sky-high expectations. They left it searching for answers.

A mix of injuries, roster flaws, and offensive regression derailed what looked like a promising core. Let’s dig into how Baltimore’s front office responded, why the offense collapsed, and why everything in 2026 now seems to hinge on two key infielders—Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg.

How the Orioles’ 2025 Season Went Off the Rails

From a distance, the Orioles’ 2025 collapse looked sudden. Up close, it was a slow burn fueled by attrition and underperformance.

Injuries piled up. The starting rotation lacked depth. A stretch of bad luck just made everything worse.

But the offense? That’s where things really fell apart. The homegrown lineup just didn’t take the next step.

In 2024, Baltimore ranked third in Major League Baseball in team slugging percentage. By 2025, that number crashed to 19th.

Losing Anthony Santander hurt—a proven power bat gone. But the bigger problem was that several internal options just didn’t deliver.

Power Outages and a Thinning Lineup

The Orioles couldn’t replace lost production. Their lack of consistent power put even more pressure on a pitching staff that was already stretched thin.

Long scoreless stretches became the norm. Close games slipped away, more often than not.

Mike Elias Responds with Aggression

President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias didn’t sit back. He knew internal growth alone wouldn’t cut it, so he made two big moves to fix the offense.

The Alonso Signing and Ward Trade

Baltimore landed Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million contract. That instantly brought in one of the league’s most reliable power threats.

They also traded for Taylor Ward, adding even more pop and some much-needed lineup balance.

These moves signaled a shift. The Orioles weren’t just waiting for every prospect to pan out—they were supplementing the core with proven major league thump.

Jackson Holliday’s Step Forward

Amid all the disappointment in 2025, Jackson Holliday stood out as a real bright spot. After a brutal rookie line of .189/.255/.311 in 2024, Holliday actually showed meaningful growth in his second season.

From Struggles to Stability

Over 149 games in 2025, Holliday posted a .242/.314/.375 slash line with 17 home runs and a 95 OPS+. That’s not going to win any MVPs, but it’s a big step forward:

The Orioles rewarded him by locking Holliday in as their everyday second baseman for 2026. That’s a clear sign they believe in his upward trajectory.

Jordan Westburg’s Importance Can’t Be Overstated

If Holliday offered hope, Jordan Westburg brought frustration. He’s got a 116 career OPS+, but Westburg just couldn’t stay on the field in 2025.

Elite Production When Healthy

Injuries limited him to just 85 games, but Westburg still tied for the team lead with 17 home runs. When he played, he was one of Baltimore’s most complete guys, putting up:

The Orioles’ worst stretch of the season lined up almost perfectly with Westburg’s absences. That says a lot about his value on both sides of the ball.

The Blueprint for 2026

FanGraphs projections put Holliday leading off and Westburg hitting second, with Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso behind them. On paper, that’s a top four you’d want to see every night.

A Ceiling Defined by Health and Growth

The Orioles’ 2026 ceiling feels clear now. If Holliday keeps developing and Westburg finally gets through a healthy season, Baltimore has the foundation for a dangerous offense.

With Alonso holding down the middle of the order, the margin for error shrinks. Suddenly, the window to contend cracks open again.

The Orioles don’t need a miracle to get back to October baseball. Their young stars just need to take another step—and stay healthy long enough to show what they can really do.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles offensive outlook hinges on improvement from Holliday and Westburg