In a press conference early Wednesday morning, Baltimore Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias announced that second baseman Jackson Holliday is having surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss Opening Day. Holliday will begin the 2026 season on the injured list.
Opening Day Not a Holliday in Baltimore
Mike Elias stated that the injury occurred while Holliday was hitting in a batting cage last Friday, February 6. Elias continued by saying that the return timeline for Holliday will be measured in weeks rather than days or months after the Orioles open the season against the Minnesota Twins on March 26. Elias continued by saying that the injury is common in hitters and is “nothing to worry about long term.”
Holliday, the former number one overall pick in the 2022 draft, has had his ups and downs throughout his time in the majors. Holliday has hit a career .229 at the highest level with an OPS of .659 and an OPS+ of 87. Many believe this year is the year he breaks out in a big way and announces himself to the league. Holliday turned 22 years of age in December, and as the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, he has always had big expectations thrust upon him. Nevertheless, once Holliday returns from the injured list, he will slot back in immediately at second base for the Orioles and look to make the jump in production that the Orioles faithful are hoping for.
Holliday’s 2026 Opening Day Replacement
With Jackson Holliday out of the lineup for the Orioles’ 2026 Opening Day matchup against the Twins, it leaves an empty spot in the lineup. While Jordan Westburg has easily the most games played at second on the Orioles’ big league roster with 120 over three seasons, he is the starting third baseman, and a move over to second seems unnecessary and unlikely. Other options include Jeremiah Jackson, who, despite playing a majority of his time in the outfield last season, played nearly half of his games at various minor league levels at second base. Jackson also hit .276 in his first stint in the big leagues with an OPS+ of 117 over his 48 appearances in the majors in 2025.
The other likely candidate to start Opening Day for Baltimore is newly acquired utility man Blaze Alexander. Alexander has played everywhere but right field in his two years at the big league level with the Arizona Diamondbacks and has historically played his best defense at second base.
The reps at second base will be intriguing to see throughout spring training, with the spot open heading into the season. Performance throughout February and March will almost certainly decide who will be starting at second base for Opening Day as the Orioles look to regain American League East glory in 2026.
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