Story perspectives

Jordan Westburg Season-Ending Elbow Surgery; Orioles Reassign Third Base

5/16/2026

Summary

Westburg Surgery

Jordan Westburg will undergo season-ending elbow surgery.
He was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and an oblique injury in spring training, began the season on the 60-day injured list and was shut down on May 4.
The repair should let him hit again by spring training 2027, though throwing will lag.
Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander and Weston Wilson will share third-base duties for the Orioles.

Summary

Westburg Setback

Westburg will earn $800,000 in 2026 and become arbitration-eligible in 2027, tightening the Orioles’ payroll outlook.
The injury intensifies scrutiny of GM Mike Elias’s rebuild after recent Tommy John setbacks and medical-staff changes.
Baltimore retains Westburg’s rights through 2029, limiting the club’s flexibility in future free-agent negotiations.
The setback creates a positional bottleneck because the only big-money free-agent, Pete Alonso, already occupies first base.

Summary

Westburg Undergoes Surgery

Westburg will undergo elbow surgery with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
The operation follows a halted rehab after intensified throwing aggravated the elbow despite a prior platelet-rich plasma injection.
Mike Elias reported imaging that the ligament tear likely existed for an extended period before spring training.
Recovery estimates indicate Westburg needs at least six months to return as a hitter and possibly over a year before fielding again.

Summary

Orioles Struggle

The Orioles sit at a 20-24 record in 2026, leaving them well outside the playoff picture while their pitching staff ranks among the league’s worst.
Westburg’s season-ending surgery has further hampered an already lackluster offense.
Jackson Holliday, still recovering from a hand injury, is taking third-base reps in his rehab assignment.
Coby Mayo, Jeremiah Jackson, Blaze Alexander and Weston Wilson will share third-base duties for the remainder of the season.

History

Historical Context

When Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on Tommy John in 1974, it proved pitchers could return and sparked a trend that by 2014 an estimated one-third of MLB pitchers had undergone the procedure. Today prospect Jordan Westburg faces the same surgery by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, illustrating the lasting impact on roster and rehab strategies.

1 of 5

Westburg Surgery

Jordan Westburg will undergo season-ending elbow surgery.
He was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and an oblique injury in spring training, began the season on the 60-day injured list and was shut down on May 4.
The repair should let him hit again by spring training 2027, though throwing will lag.
Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander and Weston Wilson will share third-base duties for the Orioles.

1 / 5