Orioles' Jordan Westburg suffers torn UCL, out for April

The injury-prone third baseman will miss the start of the 2026 season.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Jordan Westburg, the talented but oft-injured third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. He will receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and is expected to miss all of April, with his timeline for return uncertain. This is the latest setback for Westburg, who has struggled with injuries throughout his young MLB career.

Why it matters

Westburg's injury is a significant blow to the Orioles, who had high hopes for the 2020 first-round pick to anchor their infield this season. The team is already dealing with the loss of top prospect Jackson Holliday, who suffered a broken right hamate bone earlier in spring training. Westburg's absence leaves a major hole at third base and puts more pressure on the Orioles' offseason additions to help the team rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign.

The details

Westburg, 25, has a history of injuries, appearing in just 68 games as a rookie in 2023 and 107 games in 2024 after suffering a fractured right hand. Last season, he played in 85 games while battling multiple injuries. The latest setback occurred when Westburg tweaked his right oblique in January, leaving him 'physically unable to participate' in spring training. The partial UCL tear was discovered during further evaluation, and the Orioles are hopeful the PRP injection will allow Westburg to avoid surgery and return to the field sometime in May.

  • Westburg suffered the oblique injury in January 2026.
  • Westburg will receive a PRP injection on February 20, 2026.
  • Westburg is expected to miss all of April 2026 due to the UCL tear.

The players

Jordan Westburg

A talented but injury-prone third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, who was the team's first-round pick in 2020. He has struggled to stay healthy throughout his young MLB career.

Mike Elias

The president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles, who announced Westburg's injury and treatment plan.

Craig Albernaz

The manager of the Baltimore Orioles, who provided an update on Westburg's status before the injury was revealed.

Jackson Holliday

A top prospect in the Orioles' system who is also sidelined with a broken right hamate bone, further depleting the team's infield depth.

Coby Mayo

A player who could potentially benefit from Westburg's absence and see increased playing time at third base for the Orioles.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, he's physically unable to participate. He's getting evaluated by a medical team, and also outside people, to make sure we have a plan in place and see what's going on with Jordan and get him going.”

— Craig Albernaz, Orioles Manager (MLB.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

This injury to Westburg is the latest setback for the Orioles, who are already dealing with the loss of top prospect Jackson Holliday. The team's offseason additions will need to step up to help the club rebound from a disappointing 2025 season, as the absence of Westburg leaves a significant hole in their infield.