Orioles’ 2026 Hopes Rest on Internal Bounce-Backs as Holliday and Westburg Become Central to the Rebuild

There were many reasons the Baltimore Orioles failed to meet expectations during the 2025 season. Injuries mounted at the worst possible times. The starting rotation lacked depth and durability. A fair amount of bad luck also played its part. But when the dust settled, one issue stood above the rest as the most disappointing and unexpected shortcoming: the offense.

This was not supposed to happen.

Baltimore’s lineup was largely homegrown, built patiently through years of drafting and development, and widely viewed as the foundation of the organization’s championship window. Instead of carrying the team, that core collapsed. The Orioles finished the year well below expectations, watching a season of promise unravel into frustration.

Recognizing that reality, President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias acted decisively this offseason. His mission was clear: restore power, stabilize run production, and prevent another offensive freefall.

Mike Elias Injects Power Back into the Lineup

Elias’ most significant move came in free agency, where he signed Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract. The expectation is straightforward — Alonso is being paid to hit 35 or more home runs annually and anchor the middle of Baltimore’s order for the foreseeable future.

Before that signing, Elias swung a trade for Taylor Ward, a pending free agent who has launched 61 home runs over the last two seasons. Ward adds not only power, but also on-base ability and lineup flexibility.

In a matter of weeks, Elias dramatically reshaped an offense that had lost its identity.

The Orioles’ decline in power was stark. In 2024, Baltimore ranked third in MLB in slugging percentage (.435). One year later, they plummeted to 19th (.394). The departure of Anthony Santander via free agency played a role, but the larger issue was widespread underperformance from players expected to be foundational contributors.

External reinforcements raise the floor of the lineup. But the Orioles’ true ceiling in 2026 will be determined by something far more important: whether the hitters already in the organization can bounce back.

Two players, in particular, stand at the center of that question.

Jackson Holliday’s Gradual Climb Continues

One of the few Orioles hitters who actually improved in 2025 was Jackson Holliday — a notable development considering how difficult his introduction to the majors had been.

Holliday, the former consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, endured a turbulent rookie season in 2024. He was called up early, struggled mightily, and was eventually sent back to Triple-A Norfolk. When he returned, flashes of promise appeared, but consistency never followed. He finished that season with a disappointing .189/.255/.311 slash line, numbers that reflected a player overwhelmed by big league pitching.

The Orioles responded by making a deliberate choice in 2025: clear the deck and give Holliday everyday reps as the team’s starting second baseman.

The results were not spectacular — but they were meaningful.

Over 149 games, Holliday posted a .242/.314/.375 line with 17 home runs and a 95 OPS+. That places him slightly below league average offensively, but context matters. His OPS+ improved by 32 points from his rookie season, and just as importantly, he looked far more comfortable at the plate.

Holliday demonstrated improved strike-zone awareness, better pitch recognition, and a calmer approach overall. He no longer looked overmatched, and he stayed in the majors for the entire season — an accomplishment in itself given his struggles the year before.

The Orioles remain fully committed to his development. As spring training approaches, Holliday stands as the only clear everyday option at second base, and his name has not surfaced in any credible trade discussions. Baltimore views him as a long-term fixture, not a movable asset.

History suggests optimism is warranted. Many hitters from this current wave of Orioles prospects struggled initially before finding their footing in years two and three. Holliday now enters 2026 with a foundation to build upon — not pressure to justify his prospect pedigree overnight.

Jordan Westburg’s Talent Is Undeniable — Availability Is the Question

While Holliday’s challenge has been consistency, Jordan Westburg’s issue is something entirely different: health.

When Westburg is on the field, he looks like one of the better third basemen in baseball. He has already earned an All-Star selection, owns a career 116 OPS+, and plays strong defense at a premium position. A Gold Glove is not out of the question before his career ends.

But in 2025, Westburg simply could not stay healthy.

He missed time on three separate occasions:

• A hamstring strain sidelined him from late April through early June

• A finger injury cost him games in June and July

• An ankle sprain in mid-August kept him out until mid-September

All told, Westburg appeared in just 85 games.

Despite the limited availability, his production was striking. Westburg tied for the team lead in home runs (17), matching Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, both of whom played 149 or more games. It’s no coincidence that Baltimore’s worst month of the season — May — was the one Westburg missed entirely.

Even at less than full health, he slashed .265/.313/.457 with a 114 OPS+, while grading out positively on defense with 3 Outs Above Average according to Baseball Savant.

Athletically, he remains elite. Westburg maintained a 29 ft/sec sprint speed, placing him in the 89th percentile league-wide and well above the positional average for third basemen. His 4.23-second home-to-first time was the fastest among all MLB third basemen — an astonishing number for a right-handed hitter.

The talent is obvious. The challenge is availability.

Staying on the Field Is the Final Hurdle

For Westburg, the next step is not skill development — it’s durability.

Injuries are never fully preventable, but veteran players often learn how to mitigate risk through adjustments in training, recovery, and playing style. If Westburg can log 130 or more games, he projects as a 3.5+ WAR player, with upside beyond that.

The Orioles are undeniably better with him in the lineup. His absence exposes the offense; his presence elevates it.

Table Setters Who Shape the 2026 Orioles

Holliday and Westburg are not the only Orioles hitters who need to improve in 2026. But they are the two whose leaps feel the most attainable — and the most impactful.

FanGraphs estimated Holliday at 1.2 WAR in 2025, and several projection systems foresee him doubling that output in 2026, landing between 2.3 and 3.1 WAR. That level of production would place him firmly in the All-Star conversation and possibly among the league’s best at his position.

Westburg, meanwhile, has already shown All-Star and borderline MVP-caliber stretches. The only question is whether he can remain on the field long enough to sustain them.

Early lineup projections underscore their importance. FanGraphs’ Roster Resource currently slots Holliday as the leadoff hitter, Westburg second, followed by Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso. That top four, in theory, is a nightmare matchup for opposing pitchers.

But theory only becomes reality if Holliday continues his upward trajectory and Westburg avoids the injured list.

Final Outlook: Internal Growth Still Drives the Ceiling

The Orioles have spent real money and acquired real power this offseason. Those moves raise the floor of the team. But the difference between contention and disappointment in 2026 will be determined internally.

If Jackson Holliday takes another step forward and Jordan Westburg stays healthy, Baltimore’s offense transforms from fragile to formidable.

The weight does not rest entirely on their shoulders — but it rests heavily.

For the Orioles, 2026 is not just about new additions. It’s about whether the foundation they built can finally hold.