Baltimore Orioles Star Jackson Holliday Suffers Fractured Hamate Bone

Holliday will undergo surgery and miss the start of the 2026 season

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Baltimore Orioles have suffered a major blow as star second baseman Jackson Holliday has fractured his right hamate bone during a batting practice session. Holliday will require surgery and is expected to miss the start of the 2026 MLB season. The 22-year-old had a breakout year in 2025, and his absence will be a significant loss for the Orioles as they look to build on their recent success.

Why it matters

Holliday's injury is a significant setback for the Orioles, who were counting on the young second baseman to be a key part of their lineup in 2026. The hamate bone injury is common among hitters, but it can take several weeks for a player to fully recover, potentially impacting Holliday's early-season performance.

The details

Holliday fractured his right hamate bone during a batting practice session last Friday. The injury will require surgery, and the Orioles expect him to return after Opening Day. Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias downplayed the concerns, stating that the injury is "nothing concerning long term" but that Holliday will miss "some time." New Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Holliday's "mindset right now is great" and that he will "go through the process of rehab and he'll be ready to go."

  • Holliday fractured his right hamate bone during a batting practice session last Friday.
  • Holliday will undergo surgery and is expected to return after Opening Day.

The players

Jackson Holliday

A 22-year-old second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles who had a breakout season in 2025.

Mike Elias

The president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles.

Craig Albernaz

The new manager of the Baltimore Orioles.

Jordan Westburg

A 27-year-old infielder for the Baltimore Orioles who is also dealing with a right oblique strain and will be unavailable for the start of spring training.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's a pretty common baseball injury for a very long time. Happens to hitters a lot, and it's nothing concerning long term, but he's going to miss some time.”

— Mike Elias, President of Baseball Operations, Baltimore Orioles (yardbarker.com)

“He had a great offseason and comes in here early and he's looking great, and a freak thing [happens]. But his mindset right now is great. He's going to get the surgery and go through the process of rehab and he'll be ready to go.”

— Craig Albernaz, Manager, Baltimore Orioles (yardbarker.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Holliday's injury is a significant blow to the Orioles' plans for the 2026 season, as the young second baseman was expected to be a key part of their lineup. The team will need to find a way to fill the void during his absence, which could impact their early-season performance.