Can the Orioles Overcome the Early-Season Absence of Its Young Star Second Baseman?
On the day pitchers and catchers held their first official Spring Training workout, the Baltimore Orioles received tough news right off the bat to begin the season. It was reported on Wednesday that the Orioles’ former 2022 first overall pick, second baseman Jackson Holliday, suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand last week and required surgery, which he underwent today. As a result, the president of baseball operations and general manager, Mike Elias, announced that Holliday will miss Spring Training and Opening Day next month, as he’ll begin the season on the injured list with a recovery timeline measured in weeks. With this difficult news affecting one of Baltimore’s young offensive standouts, the Orioles will have to adjust and pivot as they enter 2026 with expectations of bouncing back from a disappointing 2025 season and getting off to a faster start than they did a year ago.
The loss of Holliday from the lineup will undoubtedly be felt in the Orioles’ offense, as the 22-year-old was set to enter his second full season in the Major Leagues and his third season overall. Coming straight out of high school in Oklahoma, Holliday has already experienced the full brunt of what life as a big leaguer entails. His MLB career got off to a rough start in 2024, as he struggled in 60 games, finishing with a .189 batting average, striking out 69 times, and recording just 36 hits. However, in 2025, Holliday, who spent the prior offseason focused on bulking up and building strength, began to settle into his role despite the added pressure of being the son of former MLB star Matt Holliday. He finished the 2025 season with a .242 batting average, 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 56 walks in 149 games. After showing clear improvement, the Orioles’ front office and fanbase were optimistic about the impact Holliday could make in 2026 as he looked to take the next step in his career.
Now, however, that progress will be temporarily paused as his start to the season is delayed due to injury. As the Orioles aim to become more consistent offensively, particularly in generating scoring opportunities and driving in runs, losing Holliday for the first few weeks of the regular season could have a noticeable impact. He brings a valuable combination of power and speed on the basepaths that won’t be easily replaced. That said, offseason additions Pete ‘Polar Bear’ Alonso and Taylor Ward should provide a boost in run production, alongside reliable contributors such as Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and Adley Rutschman. While Holliday’s absence creates an early void, if Baltimore can adapt under new managerial leadership and navigate the early injury setback, the Orioles could avoid another slow start in what projects to be a tightly contested AL East race.
