Miguel Cairo was hired by the Orioles as major league infield coach on Nov. 15. The responsibilities that came with the job would expand over time.

The Orioles hadn’t signed Pete Alonso to play first base. They didn’t know that Jordan Westburg would miss the entire season, giving many more starts to Jeremiah Jackson at second base and perhaps moving Jackson Holliday into a part-time role at third.

Holliday made his debut at third Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field, playing one inning before moving over to second. Of course, the first ball found him, with Holliday charging a bouncer and getting the out.

Another opportunity at third came yesterday in Game 1 of the doubleheader after Holliday pinch-hit for Weston Wilson.

“It’s been good,” Cairo said. “Just normal getting used to a different position. It’s gonna take a lot of work, it’s gonna take time. He’s never played third base before. But he’s an athlete, he’s moving his feet really good. He knows how to catch a ball. So it’s just getting used to the position – positioning, situation of the game and all that stuff.”

Holliday was drafted as a shortstop but made 52 starts at second base in 2024 and 136 last season. His 139 appearances led all American League second basemen.

The Game 2 lineup had Holliday at second base.

“Third base is more like a reaction position,” Cairo said. “It’s one step dive to the left, one step dive to the right, the short hop, long hop, drop step. You’ve just got to be ready for those. And it’s been more kind of like getting used to knowing when you’ve got to go get that short hop or back off and get the long hop. But he’s getting used to it.

“He’s been working really hard on it. And we’re gonna keep working.”

Jackson started at second again yesterday in Game 1. He played one inning at the position last season, compared to his 34 appearances in right field and 13 at third base. Manager Craig Albernaz has used Jackson exclusively at second this year, giving him 41 starts among 46 appearances.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Cairo said. “He’s been awesome going to the right, going to the left, coming in. For a guy that played outfield last year and take that task, that challenge to play second base, he’s been working really hard to become a really good second baseman.”

The trust that’s built with Jackson at second makes it easier for the Orioles to experiment with Holliday.

“When you’ve got a guy that can play different positions, you’re gonna have more of a chance to put the best hitters, offense, defense in the field,” Cairo said. “Jeremiah was hitting, too, and playing good defense, so you have different weapons you can use as a manager in the lineup.”

Alonso has a career minus-31 outs above average per Statcast data, but his plus-three rating this season ties outfielder Colton Cowser for the team lead. His plus-three run value is a dramatic improvement over the minus-7 and minus-8 in his last two seasons with the Mets.

Alonso committed his second error in Game 1, but it came after he let a low popup drop and the ball spun past him. He rushed a throw from the ground trying to get the force at second base and it bounced off Jackson’s glove.

Later in the day, Alonso pulled down a high throw and kept his foot on the bag for the out, saving a teammate from an error.

“He’s a workhorse, man,” Cairo said. “He likes to work, he wants to be the best. Since spring training he was working with the pitchers. He knew that he needed to make some adjustments with the throw to first. He went into spring training and he worked really hard on that. And so far, knock on wood, he’s been doing an excellent job just making the routine plays and helping the team win some games.”

An adjustment was made at Cairo’s suggestion during pitchers fielding practice in camp.

“It’s being more athletic at first,” Cairo said. “He was squatting too much, he couldn’t move. So what we did was, I mentioned to him, ‘Hey, why become more athletic and let the feet dictate the bounce? Move your feet.’ And so far it’s been working for him. Much improvement.”

Cairo complimented shortstop Gunnar Henderson for being “like even” now going to his backhand and glove side. And don’t bring up a slow start in the field. Cairo will recite how Henderson’s made only three errors and rush to his defense, so to speak.

“He’s an elite shortstop,” Cairo said. “A lot of people kind of panic about him. He’s an elite shortstop, elite player. You want to have 26 players like that that play hard. That work hard. And that’s what we have here.

“When I took the job, I knew the talent that we had. And the first thing that they told me, they like to work, and it shows. They want to improve, they want to be better, and they’re gonna be good.”

Blaze Alexander is living up to super-utility status. He started in left field in Game 1 and at third base in Game 2, and he’s also played second base, shortstop, center field and right.

“It’s been unbelievable. He’s a good athlete. He’s playing good defense. He’s got a good arm. You can use him in the outfield, you can use him in the infield, and you’re gonna get a consistent defender in the field.”

*In case you missed it late last night, the Orioles designated Albert Suárez for assignment again after Game 2.

The roster needed to get back down to 26 and the Orioles didn’t want to option Grant Wolfram after reinstating him from the injured list and using him as the 27th man.

Suárez tossed four scoreless innings in a 4-1 loss and lowered his ERA to 2.75 in seven appearances. This is the third DFA. He signed a new minor league deal after the first time and accepted an outright assignment after the second.