SARASOTA – The fresh start for Jordan Westburg grew stale again.

Westburg played in only 85 games last season, missing six weeks with a left hamstring strain, was out from late June to early July with an injury to his left index finger, and missed a month with a right ankle sprain before returning in the middle of September. A fractured right hand on July 31, 2024 sidelined him until Sept. 22.

The cruel nature of the sport, and in life, struck again with Westburg tweaking his oblique last month. He should be available for Opening Day but might get a late start on exhibition games.

“I feel pretty good now,” he said this morning. “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 most important players in the lineup with his quality at-bats and production – when he’s on the active roster, of course. He appeared in 107 games in 2024 and hit .264 with 26 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .792 OPS, and he made the All-Star team ironically as an injury replacement.

“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.”

Manager Craig Albernaz is new to the Orioles and already knows about Westburg’s value to the club.

“Extremely important,” he said. “Westy is such a great ballplayer. The skills, the at-bat quality, what he can bring. The versatility at the plate. And just what he brings in the clubhouse to the guys, the way he goes about his business, the way he plays. He’s a quiet leader in that clubhouse. But for me, it’s just one step at a time, one day at a time with Westy.

“Like, I don’t want him or any of our players who are coming back from injury, not saying anyone is, but even in the future, make sure the main thing is their health. Making sure they get back to 100 percent. So for him that’s the sole focus is just get him back to where he needs to be to go get ready to play.”

The mindset is an integral part of that plan for any player whose career keeps stalling for physical reasons. Albernaz is aware of that and making sure that Westburg doesn’t push too hard or grow despondent.

“It weighs on you mentally. It does,” Albernaz said. “I’m not saying it’s weighing on Westy mentally, but that’s why, it sounds so cliché and monotonous but it’s so true, you have to be where your feet are. You can’t control anything else. So right now Westy’s getting after it. He looks great. So we just want to keep him there, steady progression.

“Our goal with all of our guys is to be ready to go Opening Day, not to be ready for the first game of spring training. The finished product of where we need to be is Opening Day. That’s our North Star. So that’s something we’re preaching to Westy and all our guys.”

Westburg can sympathize with Jackson Holliday, the young second baseman who broke his right hamate bone and underwent surgery yesterday that will force him to go on the injured list. Holliday stayed healthy in 2025 but didn’t make it to the first day of camp.

“Very disappointing,” Westburg said. “Look, I’ve dealt with my fair share of injuries the last 12 months and it sucks being on the IL. I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now, knowing that his spring is not going to be normal. So we feel for him. We know he’s gonna be back hopefully sooner rather than later, and he’s got a place when he comes back. So that’s the good news is he knows where he’s at and we’re confident in his abilities.”

Westburg is the primary third baseman, but he’s made 92 starts at second base in the majors and could fill in for Holliday.

“I’m not even there yet in my rehab progression, so I’ll tackle that when it gets handed to me,” he said. “As of right now mentally I’m preparing for third. I know we’ve made some infield depth moves the last couple days. My primary position over the last 12 months has been third. I’m going to continue to mentally focus on that and if I get asked to move over and take more reps at second base, I don’t mind it. I like playing second base, too. I’ll do whatever the teams asks me to do.”

Catcher Adley Rutschman mentioned the sense of urgency around the team after a last-place finish and so many disappointing individual seasons. Westburg was asked if he’s noticing it, as well.

“Tough to feel that right now, being on the shelf,” he said. “I’m anxious to get back. I wouldn’t call it a goal because I try not to set too many goals, but it is to be as healthy as I possibly can be and try to put together a full season. Obviously, that got derailed pretty quickly, but I’m sure a lot of guys feel a sense of urgency. I think a lot of guys are hungry and excited to try to kind of put the past year behind us, and have a better season.”

The chances have increased with the team’s work in the free agent and trade markets. The payroll has grown to more than $166 million and president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias could have another move or two up his sleeve.

“It was an exciting offseason for the organization, just the aggressiveness,” Westburg said. “The additions we made, it just was like one after another after another and it’s still happening. I’m excited to meet all these guys to welcome them in. They’ve been great so far, the guys I’ve interacted down here, so this is a really exciting year for us.”

Westburg will spend most of his time throwing across the infield to five-time All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million contract in one of the biggest moves in franchise history.

“Great, great,” Westburg said. “Seems like he’s gonna be a leader in this clubhouse, a big voice for us, a veteran. Bringing energy every day. I’ve just been able to kind of watch him work the past couple days, taking ground balls, and his work ethic is all that I’ve heard about, so I’m excited to have him in the clubhouse. I’m excited to work with him in the infield. Just excited in general.”

Count Westburg among the players impressed with Albernaz, in his first year as a major league manager.

“All positive,” he said. “Guy brings energy. Reminds me a lot of (Tony) Mansolino, our old skipper, just the energy and style of conversation that he brings. I haven’t spent a ton of time around the new staff, just with my situation, but the limited interaction I have had has is all super positive.”