Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced to reporters, including Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun, that infielder Jordan Westburg has suffered a setback in his rehab. There is no estimated timetable for his return at this time but his running progression has been shut down.
Despite the lack of details, it’s obviously bad news for the O’s. Westburg landed on the 10-day injured list at the end of April due to a left hamstring strain. Just over a week ago, he was on the cusp of a rehab assignment, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Returning after a fairly minimal absence seemed possible.
Now that’s all up in the air. Perhaps this will end up just being a brief setback, but it’s possible there could be knock-on effects. A player who misses just over a week might be able to return without even going on a rehab assignment. But the longer an absence lingers, the more time it could potentially take to get back in game shape.
Time will tell how serious this setback is, but it’s less than ideal for the Orioles. They are currently in a deep hole, sporting a 15-25 record, with only the lowly White Sox below them in the American League standings. There’s still plenty of season left and they can certainly climb back in it, but the front office may have to make some tough buy/sell decisions in the middle of July, which is now just two months away.
Westburg was a key part of the club’s success last year. He hit .264/.312/.481 for a 125 wRC+ while bouncing around between the three infield positions to the left of first base. But this year has been markedly different, as he hit just .217/.265/.391 before hitting the IL.
In Westburg’s absence, the Orioles have been getting good production from Jackson Holliday at second base. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson isn’t performing quite as well as last year but is still well above average at the plate.
At third base, the O’s have been without Westburg and Ramón Urías lately, though Urías was reinstated from the IL today. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was optioned as the corresponding move. With those two both on the IL, Emmanuel Rivera filled in admirably, putting up a .346/.393/.423 line. That has been propped up by an unsustainable .450 batting average on balls in play but the O’s could hardly have expected more from an emergency call-up. Urías is playing third base in the first game of today’s double-header but Rivera might continue to get some playing time as those two cover for Westburg.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
What a doomed season. I get that we needed more stating pitching as we were playing with fire trying to get by relying on TOR Grayson when he’s often injured along with the ancient Morton and garbage Povich. But this team has been simply ravaged, well beyond any team in baseball- including the dodgers.
The pitching has been devastated with long term injuries to Bradish, Grayson, Eflin until last week, Taylor wells, Chance McDermott, and kittridge.
But the lineup has been equally snake bit with Gunnar starting on the IL, Cowser breaking his finger week 1, Westburg out again, and O’Neil out until recently. The players we’ve had on the IL along with some scrubs would beat a number of teams at full strength. It’s been a historically bad season in Baltimore.
It’s been a nightmare start almost the worst possible scenario. But the American League is so weak it’s not over. Pitching has been way better the two weeks. If the offense has positive regression towards preseason expectations we have a chance. Is that the most likely scenario no but it’s possible.
Tbh I wouldn’t hate being sellers at the deadline. Getting value for Mullins, Ohearn and some bullpen pieces would be nice. We will probably trade Eflin if we are sellers and possibly Sugano but I hope we resign both if we do
I’m kind of hoping the same at this point. What I don’t want us to do is be a few games below .500 and decide to be buyers. Even with Bradish and Wells due back then after presumably getting back Westburg, Grayson, Kittridge, etc. it would be a significant uphill battle to make the playoffs. Let’s just assume the Yankees, Tigers, and Mariners win their respective divisions in accordance with current standings, then that means there are three spots for the Red Sox, Guardians, Royals, Twins, Astros, and whoever else from among the Jays, Rays, Rangers, and even the A’s decide to show up. The league might be weak overall but there are only two bad teams (besides us). I would much rather accept the lost season, avoid Elias making buy mistakes at the deadline under pressure, trade off mullins/eflin/Sugano/O’Hearn/etc., and better position ourselves for the draft. Then you fire Hyde – who I used to like but seemingly is incapable of managing young, developing players now – and you play Holliday, Kjerstad, Mayo, etc. every day and see what you’ve got. We’re going to be contenders next season for sure, let’s use this unique in contention window situation to develop the kids and tank for superior draft capital to keep the machine going. Then you can hire a new manager in the offseason, get Elias a President or somebody to work with to help him where he lacks (FA signings and in-season trades) and open up the purse for a couple big FAs and hit the ground running next season. We’ll be better prepared for the remaining 3 years of Gunnar/Adley window and the future with Elias hopefully doing his thing and having a strong draft with the surprise early picks.
I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I still think the O’s will bounce back and very possibly get into the post-season.
I’ll have one please.
lowenstein – this was the stretch, starting with the first MIN series. Had they gone 8-4 they would have been 21-24 at the end of it. Now we’re looking at maybe 16-29? 18-27 maybe? They’re variability in the schedule after that but even if playing tons better it is still a lot to ask for .500 by even game 100.
You guys should fire Hyde now. It could provide a nice spark. Last season the Mariners fired Scott Servais after being up 10 games in the division and then falling back to .500…the new manager helped them play a lot better afterwards and was entrenched to hit the ground running in Spring Training. The Baltimore young guys could really respond to a new voice.
I’ll have what you’re having. Will it show up on random drug tests?
The offensive woes continue since last season and the pitching got worse. You’re delusional. Elias put his eggs in a mythical elixir basket that the pitching would get better with the loss of Burnes and the addition of AARP Morton. Over the past 5 seasons, going into the season with just enough starting pitching has always backfired.
I lay this at Elias’ feet. Hyde will be the scapegoat by September. As a Baltimore sports junkie, it’s time to look ahead to Ravens training camp and not think about how LJ will crap the bed in the playoffs this year.
snake bit
I don’t think people appreciate how big the loss of Jordan was last year and into the playoffs. Gunnar is the star but Jordan is the heart and soul of their offense. Their only hope to salvage this year was him being back by June.
In 2024, I agree Jordan getting hurt was what knocked them out of gear. It coincided with Adley going ice-cold and Gunnar losing his power within a week or two but they really missed Jordan in the lineup.
What a cursed season.
It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.
-Yogi
God, I love Yogi quotes.
I’m actually slightly more afraid of a tear down. In 2022 the Orioles were above .500, only a couple games out of a wild card spot, and playing well when they made the Mancini trade that said they were sellers that season. That was Aug. 1, they then won 6 straight and 8 of 9. But they kneecapped themselves and got no closer. Could they have clinched a WC and gone on a postseason run had they been a buyer? We’ll never know.
They’re about to be 15-26, so they’ll need a big hot streak just to get to .500 by July. While no one’s got the East there are numerous competitive teams as danumd87 mentioned. This MIN/ANA/MIN/WSH stretch was supposed to be the turnaround where I was hoping for at least 8-4, they’re off to a likely 2-6 start barring a big rally in the current game. I don’t see them much closer than 5 games under .500 by mid July even if they’re playing better.
Why? Hyde is still managing and they still carry the dead weight – Mateo, Perez, Sanchez, Morton, Gibson. All still on the team, all still bad, all still apparently perfectly acceptable. Westburg’s return pushed out, Rodriguez’s return pushed out (again), progress not apparent anywhere else. They seem defeated.
I don’t think they can ever depend on Grayson to come back as a top half of the rotation guy, much less any ace-quality stuff he flashed. He may become a reliever. I’d be ok with a 3 year #2 starter level deal for Eflin (the Orioles are going to have to pay more than the average team). If Sugano holds up over the Baltimore summer, a 1 year deal with a 1 year team option – let’s remember he’s 35 – with heavy incentives that make it very worth it for him should he achieve them but leaves the team an out.
Otherwise at the deadline anyone not trapped in pre free agency is available. That probably means Mullins, Mountcastle, O’Hearn, Sugano if he’s not reasonable, see if someone wants O’Neill. Then they’re THE players for ANY top or mid name pitcher in the offseason and they need at least 3 or 4 on top of Eflin and Bradish.
Are any of those guys gonna bring much in return? Maybe O’Hearn, but he’s really a platoon piece. Mullins has regressed quite a bit from his hot start. Mounty can’t get going (this one surprised me he had a torrid spring) and Sugano is 35, mid rotation arm.
I should post another one – they just scored 6 runs in one inning after I put that one up!
I was thinking today the team seems to perform as Adley does. The team was real bad and he was called up and then it was a new team, a winning team. Then he goes ice cold, as mentioned, last year and the teams gets kind of cold as well. Bad this year as is the team. I agree Westburg’s presence seemed to make an enormous difference last year.
Just starting to feel maybe its retool time. Maybe the foundation of the team is not what we thought it was last year. I would move on from Hyde. Elias as well before the draft happens and he does not select a pitcher in the first five rounds. I can give him props for some nice draft picks but not sure on the total picture. And just find the offseason close to inexcusable, especially when you are 10 under .500 in mid-May.
I feel like the issue with the Os for a long time is they just rarely extend anybody. I dont get it. Whoever the owner whoever the GM, its just rare. Adam Jones thank you. Chris Davis no thank you. But over time it just feels like why. There was a week or so where tons of teams were doing the 7 year extensions of the young guys. Okay, maybe we take a hint. Nope, nobody.
I get that Gunnar may be not possible. Or want 500M. But is there ever a conversation more than a mild kick the tires. A’s who have no home and dont even have a city on their name sign Lawrence Butler to a cheap 7-year-deal. Dont understand why we cant do those. I just feel like lets figure out if guys can be extended or decide if we want to resign them or move on. I might be ready to move on from Adley. Figure out if we can keep Gunnar and if not see if a Nationals Juan Soto haul can be had.
I’m feeling like the future may be Jackson Holliday and Basallo. Maybe knock on those doors from an extension post FA deal angle. Westburg too if he can get back on the field and resemble his old self.
I love Elias’ drafting. The problem is they need to figure out how to properly flip the prospects that are blocked. They did it with Corbin, but it was a one year rental. The Rogers deal may turn out to be as bad as trading Schilling.
Sorry not sorry, but even though advanced metrics might say he is “well above average” a .264 BA,.307 OBP, only 8 walks, and only 9 RBI in 34 games played is not “well above average” in my book. Henderson is a great young player, but he isn’t setting the world on fire. It’s hard to fathom how bad this orioles team has truly been though. other players aren’t getting on base for a player like Henderson to drive in either, but only 9 RBI in 34 games? Only 18 runs scored in 34 games? So nobody is bringing him around to score either when he eventually does get on base. No reason they should be playing like this at all! Management screwed this team over big time. It’s pathetic!
I don’t like using runs and RBI to compare because they depend upon who is around you, but home runs, batting average, walks, OBP, absolutely. Since the ASB last year he’s way down in power, his patience is way down. Even if expecting him to keep up that 1st half of 2024 pace was unreasonable, .275 with 25-30 HR and incremental improvement in plate discipline is not too much to expect. He’s way off that pace.
We’re on 120 games now. That’s not a slump. That’s crying out for a new change in direction and yet Hyde & company remain.
I think many would agree the team seems pretty lethargic. I’ve been thinking maybe its just they had not experienced what Orioles fans have experienced since 1984 that makes them shake their head and sometimes feel its hopeless. Let Mussina walk to a division opponent instead of staying and having a statue outside. Machado saying the Os never once had a conversation with him about extending him.
These guys were young and optimistic and spitting water. The future was so bright they had to wear shades. Then hey new owner. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. Always the same. These guys see us trade away Stowers and Norby for Rogers. They see how much Burnes contributed and the front office they probably expected them to start negotiating with him on an extension before he ever throws a pitch but nope, just one year grab your things and get out. Maybe concern about mph dipping and whathaveyou. Okay well maybe I get it. Fried then? No. Snell then? No. Trade for Crochet? Oh that makes sense cause we have prospects blocked. What? Oh…no, not that. What then? Charlie Morton the 41-year-old with an 8 ERA and Sugano who, hey I kind of like but is more of a nice 4 on a competitive team.
I think its possible the players are just feeling a little hopeless. Now they have enough miles to witness how it can work regardless of owner or GM. They probably felt hey new owner I hear he will spend and compete with the other FA spending teams. Nope. Just continue to spend like the Rays or Marlins even when the seats are more full than they are for those teams.
Hard to blame Hyde with all the injuries by no choice now but to make a change in the hopes of finding a spark. I believe he’s a good man and helped build a team that won 192 games in two seasons but he strikes me as really uptight and nervous and seems like that’s what this team has become.
Give it to Buck Britton and look forward to next year when Bradish and others are back