SARASOTA, Fla. – A set Orioles infield appears to be falling apart at the seams.

Jordan Westburg was a candidate to move from third base to second base while Jackson Holliday opened the season on the injured list following surgery to remove a broken right hamate bone. However, Westburg arrived in camp with a strained right oblique and the intrigue is building over the exact nature of his physical status.

Manager Craig Albernaz was asked for a Westburg health update in this morning’s media scrum.

“Right now, he’s physically unable to participate right now,” Albernaz replied, “so 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.”

Albernaz didn’t specify whether the issue remains the oblique or if Westburg is dealing with an elbow injury. The clubhouse has been closed to the media the past two mornings due to the team’s Photo Day and a meeting, but Westburg was in the building.

“Just physically unable to go,” Albernaz said.

Asked about possible concerns within the organization that Westburg is hurt worse than assumed, Albernaz said, “Oh, just want to make sure we’re doing our due diligence and make sure Jordan is in the best chance to play this year.”

The present uncertainty over Westburg’s ability to get on the field in 2026 suggests something more serious than the oblique, which he strained about three weeks prior to camp opening.

The initial projection on Westburg was a bit hazy but had him missing perhaps the first few exhibition games due to the oblique.

Injuries have hounded Westburg since he debuted in the majors in 2023. He was limited to 107 games in 2024 due to a right-hand fracture that put him on the IL from Aug. 1-Sept. 22. He dealt with a sore back in spring training 2025, went on the IL twice with a left hamstring strain (April 27-June 10) and a right ankle sprain (Aug. 19-Sept. 16), and also missed a few games after jamming a finger in late June.

“I feel pretty good now,” he said on Feb. 13. “I’m happy with the way things are progressing. Obviously frustrated and disappointed that I can’t come into spring healthy, but timetable, I’m just trying to take it day-by-day and trust in the athletic trainers’ and strength staff’s plan for my rehab. I’m hoping to get back in games as soon as possible. When that is, I can’t really speak to.

“The frustrating aspect of this is, I don’t have an instance that I can like pinpoint when this happened. It’s kind of one of those things where I woke up a little bit sore, tried to be smart about it, cut down on swinging and throwing and everything, report it to the trainers. And then as the day that I noticed it went along, it just got worse and worse and I figured there was an issue there. Thankfully, I was able to get up to Baltimore and get an MRI, get things started rehab-wise before I got down here.”

Westburg is one of the team’s best hitters and even more important now with Holliday out. He was an injury replacement on the 2024 American League All-Star team and batted .264 with 26 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .792 OPS.

“For me personally, it’s disappointing,” he said. “It felt like when I was on the field I played pretty well. The struggle was staying on the field, so my biggest takeaway going into the offseason was kind of like, what can I do in preparation to try to put together a full season? Worked really hard this year with a physical therapist to get my ankle right, to get my body feeling about as good as I have my whole career up until the oblique popped up.

“I felt like I was doing everything right and here we are again.”

But exactly where? And is there an elbow injury that happened during his recovery from the oblique strain, when maximum throwing effort is unlikely to occur?

Coby Mayo keeps working out at third base and could replace Westburg. Blaze Alexander, who homered yesterday in live batting practice, can play second. Jeremiah Jackson is moving around the infield and his chances of making the club are improving.

There’s also the possibility of an outside acquisition. Ramón Urías, for example, remains on the free agent market.

*Left-hander Trevor Rogers is starting Friday afternoon’s first exhibition game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium.

Pitching coach Drew French informed Albernaz of his decision.

*The Orioles announced the return of the Birdland Summer Music Series, with two postgame concerts: rap artist Nelly following the 4:05 p.m. game on Saturday, May 9, against the Athletics, and an “I Love the 90s” concert featuring Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, Tag Team and Treach of Naughty By Nature following the 7:05 p.m. game on Friday, Aug. 21, against the Rays.