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Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday. 

Three players who were top prospects in baseball. Two of whom were quite literally the best prospects in the game. All were drafted as shortstops. 

Even as they developed into future franchise cornerstones, they still didn’t settle into one position.

Holliday played second base, third base and shortstop throughout the course of 218 minor league games. Westburg played all three as well, plus left and right field for good measure. Henderson didn’t venture into the outfield grass, but played everywhere in the infield, including first base. 

The Orioles farm stressed versatility, and even the top prospects in the system followed suit. While their versatility has paid dividends at the big league level, it wasn’t “necessary” for them to advance through the system.  

Prospects Max Wagner and Tavian Josenberger, not currently ranked in the Orioles’ top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline, don’t have the same luxury. And their versatility goes a long way in helping them find a place in the lineup. 

And they use players like Westburg as an example. 

“That’s the guy that people have said, just because of how versatile he is, he’s able to play wherever, hit in whatever spot in the lineup,” Wagner said in Bowie. “That’s kind of what I want to be. Any way to get in the lineup. I’ll get in the outfield, I’ll catch if I have to. Any way to get in the lineup and play.”

Despite being a former second-round pick, Wagner has ground to make up after missing nearly a full season due to injury. He knows that being able to play anywhere on the diamond will help him progress. 

“I know versatility is huge in this org,” Wagner added. “Primary is third, and then second base, but I’ve worked a little bit at first. Any way to get me in the lineup, that’s how I see it and how they see it. Just working on different positionings on the field, different shifts, different depths, stuff like that. Different ground balls, going from one side of the diamond to the other.”

Josenberger, a third-round pick in 2023, sees Wagner’s infield versatility and raises him the ability to roam the outfield too. The former Arkansas Razorback and Kansas Jayhawk played a whopping six different positions in 2024. 

What does an offseason preparing to play that many positions look like? 

“You need a lot of space,” Josenberger joked. “Especially if you’re somewhere that it’s cold. Making sure you’re getting your ground balls in and your fly balls in.”

So, basically, everything. 

Outside of catchers, you won’t find one of Wagner and Josenberger’s position-player teammates on the Baysox who doesn’t play multiple positions. At Triple-A Norfolk, you’ll find much of the same. 

To see it paying off, just take a look at how the big league season got started. 

Holliday, after spending an offseason playing second base, started the season at shortstop. Westburg, after an All-Star season at the hot corner, jumped over to second base. And now, with Henderson’s return, Holliday is back at second and Westburg at third. 

Brandon Hyde has plenty of options to get his best players in the lineup. 

Wagner and Josenberger hope that their versatility will allow them to be in that mix in the years to come.